Hounslow ranks in top ten of all local authorities for parking surplus

A report out today from the RAC Foundation shows that Hounslow is in the top ten of English councils when it comes to making a profit from parking charges.  Its surplus of £7.3million has increased by 43% since 2009.

Parking charges and fines are there to help councils keep traffic flowing and to keep pedestrians and motorists safe.  Local Government Secretary Rt Hon. Eric Pickles MP has made it clear that parking is not a tax or cash cow for town hall officers. Any profits made from parking must be spent on transport purposes such as dealing with pot holes, improved road management or in improving local public transport to free up the roads.

Local MP Mary Macleod, who receives complaints almost every week from residents about unclear parking rules and fines, particularly in the Chiswick area, is keen to find out what exactly the London Borough of Hounslow are doing with this huge profit.

Mary commented:

 “Shortly after taking office, the Government awarded Hounslow a grant worth around £350m over 25 years as part of an overall £800m Hounslow Highways Private Finance Investment of £800m to upgrade the roads and pavements. It also received money from the Government Emergency Pothole Repair Grant in 2011/12. So why do they need to make such a profit from parking charges and fines?

“I urge the Council to immediately address this and tell local residents why it has been necessary to increase parking charges by 43% since 2009/10.”

Mary has recently started a campaign to persuade Hounslow to introduce a ‘HounslowCard’, which would allow local people 30 minutes of free parking anywhere in the Borough to encourage people to use local shops and businesses.

Mary added:

“I would like to see the Council bring in a “HounslowCard”, similar to the RichmondCard in the neighbouring Borough. We should be using money from parking to support our small businesses and make it easier for local residents to shop locally.”

PHOTO: Mary Macleod MP