Forest of Dean incurs an annual parking deficit of £42,000, ranking it 254 out of 282 councils in terms of surplus from parking services. This financial situation highlights the council's struggle to generate revenue through its parking operations while also managing associated costs.
on 14 April 2026
How Much Does Forest of Dean Make from Parking?
Forest of Dean's total parking income for the year 2024-25 amounts to £208,000 according to DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25 data. This revenue comes exclusively from off-street parking as there's no reported income from on-street parking or PCN (penalty charge notice) collection. The lack of PCN income means that the council doesn't generate any additional funds through fines, which typically contribute significantly to other councils' overall parking revenues.
The breakdown shows a stark difference in revenue generation between on-street and off-street parking services within Forest of Dean. While off-street parking brings in £208,000, there's no income from on-street locations, indicating that the council may rely heavily on privately managed or free public spaces for street-level parking.
According to the DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25, forest of dean generated a parking surplus of £-42,000 in 2024-25
How Does Forest of Dean Compare to Other Councils?
Forest of Dean ranks 254 out of 282 councils in terms of surplus generated from parking services. This ranking places it well below average when considering national data where the total parking surplus across all councils is £1,144.5 million. The best-performing councils often make ten times or more than the average income, highlighting a significant disparity in revenue generation capabilities among local authorities.
What Are Your Rights When You Get a Parking Fine in Forest of Dean?
When you receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) in Forest of Dean, it's important to understand whether the fine originates from the council itself or from private parking operators. The rules and processes for challenging these fines differ based on their source.
For council-issued PCNs, you have a 14-day window to pay with a 50% discount. After this period, you can make a formal challenge before appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal if unresolved. In contrast, private parking charges follow different procedures depending on whether the operator belongs to Parking on Private Land Accreditation Scheme (POPLA) or Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
According to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, you can appeal a council parking fine for free through the traffic penalty tribunal
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, motor vehicle keepers are protected from unfair penalties and have rights to challenge notices that don't meet legal standards. This act ensures that fines must be justified based on clear evidence of a breach.
How to Appeal a Parking Fine in Forest of Dean
Appealing a parking fine in Forest of Dean involves several steps:
- Informal Challenge: Within 28 days, you can informally challenge the PCN directly with the council or private operator. For council-issued fines, this period is reduced to 14 days if you wish to take advantage of the 50% discount.
According to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, private parking charges are contractual invoices, not criminal fines, under schedule 4 of the act
- Formal Representation: If your informal challenge doesn't resolve the issue, a Notice to Owner will be issued. At this stage, you can submit formal representation to contest the charge.
- Independent Appeal: Should the formal representation fail, you have the right to an independent appeal through either the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for council-issued fines or POPLA/IAS for private operators.
you don't need a claims management company; the entire process of challenging parking fines is free and can be pursued directly with your local authority.
Sources
- DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
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