Kirklees Council make £1.67m in parking profits new research reveals

That is according to analysis by the RAC Foundation which shows councils across the country are making hundreds of millions from parking activities.

Kirklees Council made £1.67 million in profit from parking services in 2019-20, according to the research. However, that was down six per cent from £1.77 million the previous year.

The RAC analysis is based on data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “Parking management is quite a money spinner for some local authorities, and nationally it is a big business.”

David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said councils have to ensure spaces are available for drivers to keep traffic moving and avoid dangerous obstructions in the roads.

He said: “Income raised through parking charges and parking fines is spent on running parking services.

“Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing potholes and tackling congestion.”