Tunbridge Wells generates a notable parking surplus of £3.6 million in fiscal year 2024-25, ranking it 73 out of 282 councils according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Revenue Outturn 2024-25 data. This significant revenue is driven by a combination of on-street parking fees, off-street parking charges, and penalty charge notices (PCNs).
on 09 April 2026
How Much Does Tunbridge Wells Make from Parking?
Tunbridge Wells generates a substantial amount of income through its parking infrastructure, with a total parking surplus of £3.6 million in 2024-25. The town's parking revenue is split between on-street and off-street sources, with off-street parking contributing the lion's share at £5.6 million. In contrast, on-street parking brings in £1.6 million, reflecting the popularity of private car parks over street-side parking.
Penalty charge notices (PCNs) also contribute to this income stream, bringing in a total of £1.0 million. This represents approximately 14% of the town's overall parking revenue, indicating that while PCN income is significant, it doesn't form the majority of the council's parking income.
According to the DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25, tunbridge wells generated a parking surplus of £3.6 million in 2024-25
How Does Tunbridge Wells Compare to Other Councils?
Tunbridge Wells ranks 73 out of 282 councils in terms of parking surplus. While this indicates a strong performance, it's important to note that some top-performing councils generate upwards of ten times more revenue from parking than the average council. This disparity highlights the varying levels of income generation among local authorities.
What Are Your Rights When You Get a Parking Fine in Tunbridge Wells?
When you receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) in Tunbridge Wells, it's important to understand whether the fine comes from the council or a private operator, as this dictates your rights and options for contesting the charge. Council PCNs can be disputed through formal processes such as appealing at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal after an informal challenge period of 14 days, during which you may qualify for a 50% discount if you pay promptly.
Private parking charges follow different procedures depending on whether the operator belongs to Parking On Private Land Accreditation (POPLA) or the Independent Appeals Service (IAS). Regardless of who issues the charge, you have the right to contest it under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which outlines specific rules regarding keeper liability.
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 Tunbridge Wells
The process for appealing a parking fine in Tunbridge Wells involves several steps. First, you should make an informal challenge within 28 days (or 14 days if the PCN is issued by the council to retain the discount). If this initial attempt fails, you can move on to formal representation after receiving a Notice to Owner from the council.
Should these efforts not resolve the issue, your next step would be an independent appeal. For council-issued PCNs, this involves appealing at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, while for private operators, you should seek POPLA or IAS depending on their trade body affiliation. you can also directly complain to your council without incurring additional costs.
You don't need a claims management company as the appeal process is free; you're entitled to deal with it yourself under the legal framework provided by Tunbridge Wells and national regulations.
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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