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Annual parking report 2019 to 2020

We are committed to delivering a stronger, fairer, and greener Cardiff. Our plans to improve transport in the city is set out in our 10 year Transport Strategy. Managing the highway network in the right way is a key part of this.

Our annual parking report provides information on how we support our services and enforcement activities.

Parking enforcement

Enforcing parking restrictions helps us to address any illegal and inconsiderate parking in the city.

Depending on the type of contravention, there are two different parking fine amounts:

  • £70 for higher level contraventions or,
  • £50 for lower-level contraventions.

If you pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) promptly, the charge will reduce by 50%. If you ignore a PCN, the charge will increase.

Between 2019 to 2020 we issued 72,268 parking PCNs

Between 2019 to 2020, the five most common parking contraventions were:

CodeContraventionPCNs issuesPenalty level
12Parked in resident bays without a permit, or a permit has not been clearly displayed.17,430Higher - £70
01Parked on yellow lines and restricted streets.12,108Higher - £70
06Parked in a pay and stay bay without a ticket, or a ticket has not been clearly displayed.5,824Higher - £70
27Parked next to dropped kerbs.4,908Higher - £70
02Parked in an area.3,753Higher - £70


You can find out more about the codes we use for parking and moving traffic contraventions.

Bus lane and moving traffic enforcement

We enforce restrictions in bus lanes to reduce delays and make bus travel more efficient. This makes our roads safer and helps traffic flow more easily around the city.

We issue PCNs for drivers that contravene some moving traffic restrictions, such as:

  • banned turns,
  • restricted access, and
  • box junctions.

Bus lane and moving traffic contraventions can only be enforced by CCTV.

The penalty for all bus lane and moving traffic contraventions is £70. This will reduce to £35 if you pay the penalty within 21 days.

Between 2019 and 2020 we issued:

  • 75,927 bus lane PCNs, and
  • 65,787 moving traffic PCNs.

Between 2019 to 2020, the five most common bus lane and moving traffic contraventions were:

CodeContraventionPCNs issued
34Being in a bus lane.75,927
31Being in a box junction.22,657
50RTurning right where a right turn is not allowed.15,454
50LTurning left where a left turn is not allowed.14,489
51Failing to comply with a no-entry restriction.9,107


You can find out more about the codes we use for parking and moving traffic contraventions.

Challenges, representations and appeals

If drivers receive a PCN but do not think they should pay the fine, they should write to us to explain why. We will consider the reasons they have given and decide if we should cancel the PCN.

Informal challenges

You can make an informal challenge to our decision within 14 days of the PCN being issued to you.

Formal representations

You can make a formal representation if you have been served a Notice to Owner, or if you have received a PCN through the post.

Between 2019 to 2020, the amount of informal and formal challenges we received were:

TypeReceivedPercentage of PCNs that were cancelled*Percentage of PCNs that were enforced
Informal11,87059%41%
Formal24,52366%34%

*this does not always mean that enforcement was stopped, as a new PCN may have been directed to someone else. For example, if the vehicle was hired from someone else.

If we reject your formal representation, you have a right to appeal to an independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Between 2019 to 2020 the number of outcomes of cases taken to the adjudicator were:

 Parking contraventionBus lane contraventionMoving traffic contravention
Total appeals179142147
Won by council134103111
Lost by council453936


You can find out more about informal challenges and formal representations.

Blue badges

Blue badges give parking benefits to people that have mobility issues. There are a number of dedicated blue badge bays in the city. We also accept applications from disabled drivers for a blue badge bay outside their home.

Between 2019 to 2020, we introduced 96 new disabled bays for blue badge holders.

You can find out more about the Blue badge parking scheme.

Blue badge enforcement

It is a criminal offence to misuse a blue badge. We enforce blue badge misuse to make sure that disabled people are not inconvenienced by drivers that abuse the scheme.

Between 2019 to 2020 the number of blue badges checked by inspectors were:

EnforcementTotal
Blue badges checked1,539
Number of blue badges seized71
Cases taken to court64
Offenders cautioned8
Offenders fined56
Average fine£402


The locations where the highest levels of blue badge misuse were:

  • Churchill Way,
  • Windsor Lane, and
  • Windsor Place.

The three main types of badge misuse were:

  • Using a blue badge when the badge holder was not present.
  • Expired badges.
  • Badges being used after the badge holder had died.

 

Permits

We use permit parking schemes in areas where there is a high demand for parking. This is so we can make sure that there are enough parking spaces for residents.

We also issue access permits for some moving traffic restrictions, such as School Streets. You can find out more about our School Streets Scheme.

Between 2019 to 2020 the number and types of permits we issued were:

Type of permitPermits issued
Resident22,409
Visitor9,877
School Street189
BusinessN/A
Doctor43
Carer4
ContractorN/A

 

Pay and stay

We operate pay and stay parking in car parks and on streets across the city.

Between 2019 to 2020, the number of tickets sold and income generated from them was:

LocationTickets issuedIncome
On-street1,185,130£4,929,203
Car parks1,205,260£1,072,891
Total2,390,390£6,002,094


Our payment machines accept card and cash. You can also pay for parking using the MiPermit Service.

Between 2019 to 2020, the methods of payment were:

Method of paymentPercentage of payments taken
Card30%
Cash58%
MiPermit12%

 

Clamping and removals

Every vehicle registered in the UK must be correctly taxed if it is used or kept on a public road. We will clamp and remove vehicles that are not taxed correctly.

Between 2019 to 2020 the number of vehicles that were clamped or impounded were:

Action takenNumber of vehicles
Clamped418
Impounded125


The highest number of untaxed vehicles were found in:

  • Pentwyn,
  • Grangetown, and
  • Splott.

 

Use of income

Any income that is made from parking fees and enforcement is used in line with Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Any money raised can be used under this section for:

  • highways and roads projects
  • improving the environment, and
  • public transport services.

Between 2019 to 2020, our parking income was:

How income was generatedAmount
On-street parking£5,024,000
Car parks£1,186,000
Permits£386,000
Parking PCNs£2,229,000
Bus lane and moving traffic PCNs£5,648,000
Other*£14,000
Total income£14,487,000

*for example:

  • charges for replacement Blue Badges,
  • applications for Traffic Regulation Orders, and
  • other parking services.
  • Between 2019 to 2020, our outgoings were:
OutgoingsAmount
Operating costs£659,000
Enforcement costs£6,064,000
Total outgoing£6,723,000

Between 2019 to 2020, our parking surplus income was:

SurplusAmount
Total surplus£7,764,000
Contribution to schemes as per section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act£7,140,000
Contribution to Parking Reserve Account£624,000