Motoring Journalist and Broadcaster Danny Kelly has hit out at UK councils after new figures revealed they have made over £1billion in parking management alone.
Local authorities have enjoyed a 10 per cent rise since the beginning of 2017, and reports suggest they are making £962,000,000 a year.
The total revenue generated from on-street and off-street parking fees as well as parking fines has now exceeded £1billion.
According to reports, councils imposing parking fee rises have been accused of deterring tourists and squeezing small local businesses by putting off local shoppers.
Danny Kelly hit out at 'cash cow' councils over parking fees
GB News
Westminster Council has become the top income earner, netting £72million in profit between 2022 and 2023.
Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham councils have also all reported incomes of over £30million each.
Joined by Danny Kelly, host Martin Daubney fumed at the latest data, branding the councils "cash cows".
Daubney defended the "poor old beleaguered motorists" being affected by parking charges, stating that parking fees are "being milked dry."
Kelly agreed, fuming: "And a lot of that, besides the fines, is actually how much they take off you when you do want to park. It's curious isn't it?
"It's curious that you have a failing council yet they want £14million of parking fines and as well as parking fees, you have to put two and two together. I wonder whether there is indeed a coincidence between failing councils."
Kelly continued: "Once again, it's the motorist. It's a cash cow for local councils. And let me just give you one damning indictment on what it's like to park in London.
"If you drive a non-Ulez compliant car, it costs you more to park on the street than an Ulez compliant car. It's a damning indictment."
UK councils have made over £1billion from parking fees and fines, new data has revealed
PA
Martin shared his thoughts on the data, agreeing with Kelly's concerns: "I was angry enough about parking fines without you mentioning Ulez Dan.
"But another thing that's completely cynical about this is that they're also specifically targeting tourist hotspots.
"So they're not just ripping off people in their hometowns, they're ripping off Brits who want to go somewhere like the New Forest or Brighton or the Tendering District or seaside towns like Clacton on Sea, where they've almost doubled their fines.
"They know where people are going. They know they won't be familiar with local parking restrictions. They know they can't be bothered to faff around with apps and all the rest of it.
"And so they're cynically fleecing motorists from out of town as well."
