Council Pursues Millions in Unpaid Parking Charges
Croydon Council is facing a significant financial shortfall, with more than £1.13 million in unpaid parking fines outstanding from drivers across the borough. According to data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a total of 6,701 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) remain unsettled, revealing a major issue with enforcement.
Persistent Offiners Rack Up Huge Debts
The scale of the problem is highlighted by a list of the top 50 worst offenders. The single biggest offender has accumulated a staggering debt of £68,255 from 343 separate fines. Another driver is not far behind, owing £60,647 for 350 unpaid PCNs.
These persistent offenders account for a substantial portion of the total debt. The top ten vehicles on the list alone are responsible for over £380,000 in unpaid fines. Even the 50th offender on the list still owes more than £13,000, with many individuals having accumulated between 100 and 350 tickets.
Political Blame Game Erupts Over Enforcement
The revelation has sparked a political row, with Labour opposition leader Councillor Stuart King launching a fierce criticism of the Conservative Mayor Jason Perry's administration. "It is staggering that Mayor Perry has allowed over £1m in fines to go unpaid," King said. "In many of these cases, literally hundreds of fines are being issued with no follow-up."
King further argued that this failure impacts law-abiding residents, stating, "Meanwhile, hardworking council taxpayers can’t park near their homes because the Mayor isn’t cracking down on this sort of behaviour."
In response, Mayor Jason Perry defended his record by shifting blame to the previous Labour leadership. "Under Labour, parking enforcement in Croydon was a shambles, years of neglect allowed thousands of fines to go unpaid and problem vehicles to clog up our streets," Perry asserted. "I’m fixing that."
Mayor Perry pointed to his administration's "zero-tolerance approach" and cited a recent case where a vehicle with over 60 outstanding PCNs, worth more than £11,000, was removed and is now facing prosecution. He emphasised his commitment to working with the DVLA and enforcement partners to seize unregistered vehicles and clear the streets.
Parking fines are a crucial income stream for local authorities, intended to fund road safety and transport improvements. With some of these Croydon debts believed to be several years old, questions remain about the effectiveness of the council's pursuit of those who repeatedly flout the rules.
