London Councils is consulting on the level of penalty charges for parking and traffic contraventions on roads controlled by all London boroughs, including the City of London.
London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee is responsible for setting parking, bus lane and moving traffic penalty charges on borough roads.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are issued when motorists do not follow parking, bus lane and moving traffic regulations. Not following the regulations can lead to congestion and have a negative impact on air quality. It also affects how other road users travel and access public transport services in London and can be dangerous.
The consultation on penalty charge levels relating to parking and traffic enforcement and other additional fees relating to parking, launches today and will run for 12 weeks. Once all responses are collated and analysed, they will be vital in informing the decision regarding the future level of penalty charges.
The committee has not reviewed parking, bus lane and moving traffic penalty charges since 2010 and many of the current charges and additional fees have not changed since 2007.
The number of PCNs issued in London has increased by 50% over the last 12 years and London boroughs are concerned that the current penalty charge levels are not high enough to encourage compliance and act as a deterrent. There are many examples of people choosing to park where they are not allowed to despite knowing they will receive a penalty charge.
The impact of inflation on penalty charge levels has meant that there has been a reduction in the real value of these charges and additional fees over time. The costs to London boroughs for providing a parking and traffic management service have also increased significantly since 2011.
The capital is split into roads controlled by London boroughs and those controlled by Transport for London (TfL). TfL has similar responsibilities to London boroughs for setting penalty charges on their own roads – the Transport for London Route Network (TLRN), or Red Routes. In 2022, following a consultation in 2021, TfL increased parking, bus lane and moving traffic penalty charges on the roads they manage from £130 to £160. The current maximum penalty charge level for contraventions on borough roads remains at £130.
Mayor Philip Glanville, London Councils Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment, said:
“London boroughs are committed to making our roads safe and accessible for everyone. By effectively managing parking and traffic we can incentivise people to drive and park safely, protect access, crossing and junctions, and increase active travel such as walking, cycling and rented e-scooter use. We can also improve bus prioritisation, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
“Today’s consultation is a crucial part of the Transport and Environment Committee’s decision-making process on penalty charge levels and additional fees, and anyone who uses London’s roads can have their say on the new proposals. We are dedicated to ensuring the plans don’t negatively impact lower income and more vulnerable people and welcome all input into this consultation.”
