£1,500 a day: Black Country councils rake in staggering amount from parking fines as drivers are left out of pocket

New figures seen by the Express & Star have revealed the extent of the parking fines operation in the city.

And the data obtained from Wolverhampton council also reveals the top 15 lucrative streets and car parks for parking fines.

A council spokesman has said areas are not targeted, but notices will be issued to people parking illegally.

Over the past three financial years the council gave out 69,735 tickets, rising to 24,313 in 2016/17.

In total it is the equivalent of 64 given out each day, with the proceeds from the fines netting the council £1.7 million over the three years.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Paul Butters said: “This data shows this is happening to people every single day. This isn’t a game of Monopoly – it just looks like another way for this Labour council to take every more cash from hard working people.

“They need to make the rules a lot clearer. They make over £1,500 a day from our streets. This is totally scandalous. They are treating drivers like cash cows.”

“A lot of people have made the same mistake.The council needs to make this a lot clearer. It shouldn’t be about making money for them, it should be about controlling parking and managing highway safety.”reating drivers like cash cows.”

Neighbouring Black Country authority Walsall Council raked in £1.2 million from the 48,302 fines it handed out over the same period.

The council is making more than £1,000 a day on average in fines but bosses argue it is not a money spinner for the cash-strapped authority.

The most lucrative roads in Walsall were Bridge Street, High Street and Station Street.

In Wolverhampton Red Lion Street, which closes for events at the Civic Hall and Wulfrun Hall for security measures, saw the most fines with 2,809, raising £69,848.

It was followed by Wulfruna Street with 2,619 tickets, raising £47,738, and Fold Street Car Park with 2,567 tickets, raising £50,566.

Every street and car park in the top 15 was in Wolverhampton city centre apart from Pinfold Street Car Park in Bilston.

The car park, which serves the area's shops, saw 1,412 tickets, raising £30,836 and putting it 14 in the list.

Parking fines vary depending on the extremity of the offence, from £50 for parking past the time paid to £70 for parking in a taxi rank.

'The council should be more generous'

Last night a Wolverhampton council spokesman said: "The City of Wolverhampton Council does not target particular areas within the City for additional parking enforcement.

“Penalty Charge Notices are issued to motorists who park in contravention; this may be as a result of people either overstaying their paid-for time while parked in an on or off-street pay and display bay, or having not paid for parking in the first place.

"Penalty Charge Notices may also be issued in instances where individuals have misused a designated disabled bay by parking without clearly displaying a valid blue badge or have not parked correctly within a marked bay, both of which prevent other drivers from using these bays.

"We offer a wide range of parking options in Wolverhampton, including on- street parking and short and long stay car parks, and would encourage motorists to ensure they have both parked correctly and paid the correct amount for the time they will be there.

He added: "All income generated through parking enforcement activities is reinvested in the parking service, with any surplus used for highways and environmental improvements."

Henry Carver, president of the Wolverhampton Business Forum, said: "I could never support illegal parking, but I always feel the council should be a little bit generous to people who are slightly overstaying their paid time.

"We have all been there. Paid for an hour then got delayed or forgot when we needed to come back."