Motorists face parking permit postcode lottery
Cost of a parking permit ranges from nothing to £750.
The cost of a residential parking permit varies by as much as £750 across the country, according to new research.
The average cost for a permit is £59.17, yet while some don't have to pay a penny for theirs, others have to fork out as much as £750 a year to be able to park their car near their home.
The situation means motorists face a postcode lottery when it comes to parking charges.
Varying charges
Across the country 62% of councils issue parking permits to residents and almost a third of those have a range of charges rather than one simple fee. Within one council the cost of a permit can fluctuate by almost £100.
Surprisingly, it isn’t Londoners who are having to pay the most for residents parking. Birmingham City Council and Manchester City Council levy the highest charges in the country.
The capital only has four boroughs that make it into the top 10 most expensive places to buy a parking permit in the country.
|
Rank |
Council |
Highest annual parking permit cost |
|
1= |
Birmingham City Council |
£750 |
|
1= |
Manchester City Council |
£750 |
|
3 |
London Borough of Islington |
£434 |
|
4 |
Mole Valley Council |
£350 |
|
5 |
City of Edinburgh |
£280 |
|
6 |
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |
£275 |
|
7 |
London Borough of Hackney |
£265 |
|
8 |
London Borough of Lambeth |
£260 |
|
9= |
City of Glasgow |
£250 |
|
9= |
Sevenoaks District Council |
£250 |
|
9= |
Forest Heath District Council |
£250 |
|
12 |
London Borough of Brent |
£218 |
|
13 |
Mendip District Council |
£215 |
The cost of a permit varies staggeringly in Birmingham depending on where you want to park. Zone tariffs range from £16 for parking areas outside of the city up to a whopping £750 for the city centre.
Cutting the cost of your permits
If the cost in your area for a resident permit seems steep, check whether emissions make a difference. For example, in the London Borough of Islington permits are free for electronic cars, but cost £434 for cars with engines over 2,751cc.
Also, check whether the cost of a permit is affected by the number of cars in your household. The price for a second permit can be substantially higher than for the first one. For example, Daventry District Council charges £17 for the first resident parking permit but £288 for additional ones. In Hammersmith & Fulham in London you would pay £60 for your first permit, with a ‘greener vehicle’ discount, but a massive £497 for a second one.
Do you have to pay for a parking permit? Do you think the cost is reasonable? Let us know your thoughts below.
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