Annual parking report 2020 to 2021

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 2020 to 2021 we issued 28,876 parking PCNs. This is lower than previous years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and reduced enforcement activity.

Between 2021 to 2021, the five most common parking contraventions were: 

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 2020 and 2021 we issued:

• 21,259 bus lane PCNs, and
• 45,086 moving traffic PCNs.

Between 2020 to 2021, the five most common bus lane and moving traffic contraventions were:

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 2020 to 2021, the amount of informal and formal challenges we received were:

*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 2020 to 2021 the number of outcomes of cases taken to the adjudicator were: 

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 2020 to 2021, we introduced 46 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.

There was no enforcement for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blue Badge Fraud Investigators resumed their patrols in November 2020.

Between 2020 to 2021 the number of blue badges checked by inspectors were:

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 2020 to 2021 the number and types of permits we issued were:

Pay and stay

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

Between 2020 to 2021, the number of tickets sold and income generated from them was:

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

Between 2020 to 2021, the methods of payment were:

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 2020 to 2021 the number of vehicles that were clamped or impounded were:

Of the 262 clamped vehicles:

• 59% were released,
• 35% were impounded, and
• 5% of vehicles had their clamps stolen.

Of the 93 impounded vehicles:

• 76 were disposed of, and
• 17 were released.

The highest number of untaxed vehicles were found in:

• Riverside
• Canton, and
• Grangetown.

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 2020 to 2021, our parking income was:

*for example:

• charges for replacement Blue Badges,
• applications for Traffic Regulation Orders, and
• other parking services.
• Between 2020 to 2021, our outgoings were:

Between 2020 to 2021, our parking surplus income was: