Gravesham Borough Council operates a modest parking surplus of £842,000 in 2024-25, ranking 161 out of 282 councils across the UK. This surplus is derived primarily from parking income and penalty charge notices (PCNs), with specific contributions coming from both on-street and off-street parking.
on 14 April 2026
How Much Does Gravesham Make from Parking?
Gravesham Borough Council generates a total parking income of £2.4 million, which includes revenue from on-street and off-street parking facilities. On-street parking contributes £1.0 million to the council's coffers, while off-street parking brings in an additional £1.4 million.
PCN income, which is a significant component of total income, amounts to £465,000. This represents nearly 20% of Gravesham's overall parking revenue, highlighting the importance of PCNs in maintaining the financial balance between income and expenditure.
According to the DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25, gravesham generated a parking surplus of £842,000 in 2024-25
How Does Gravesham Compare to Other Councils?
Gravesham ranks 161st out of 282 councils in terms of parking surplus. The national average is lower than what many top-performing councils generate, with some making upwards of ten times more than the typical council surplus. For instance, while Gravesham's surplus is £842,000, top-ranking councils can achieve surpluses over £1 million.
What Are Your Rights When You Get a Parking Fine in Gravesham?
When faced with a parking fine in Gravesham, it's important to understand the differences between council PCNs and private parking charges. Council-issued PCNs are subject to specific procedures that allow for formal challenge through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. On the other hand, private parking charges issued by companies operating car parks must follow different rules set out by their trade body, such as Parking on Private Land (POPLA) or Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 also plays a role in determining who's liable for fines. Under this act, the registered keeper of the vehicle is generally responsible unless they can prove that someone else was driving at the time of the offence.
According to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, you can appeal a council parking fine for free through the traffic penalty tribunal
How to Appeal a Parking Fine in Gravesham
The first step when appealing a parking fine from Gravesham Borough Council involves an informal challenge within 28 days. However, for council PCNs, it's important to make this challenge within 14 days to retain the possibility of a 50% discount on the penalty charge.
If your initial appeal is unsuccessful, you can proceed with formal representation after receiving a Notice to Owner. This leads to an independent appeal process, which varies depending on whether the PCN was issued by the council or a private operator. For council-issued fines, this means appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, while for private operators, you would use POPLA or IAS.
you don't need a claims management company to handle your appeal; the entire process is free and can be managed directly through Gravesham Borough Council. This ensures transparency and fairness in resolving disputes over parking fines.
According to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, private parking charges are contractual invoices, not criminal fines, under schedule 4 of the act
Sources
- DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
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