A ROAD in Southend saw more money made in parking fines than in cities such as Sheffield and Manchester.

Motorists in London Road forked out £133,448 in parking fines in 2013-14, making it the third biggest earner in the country outside of London.

Official figures for 2013-14 show Chiswick High Road, in Hounslow, west London, had the highest fine income, generating 23,870 tickets and racking in a whopping £1.36million.

Free parking is offered along London Road with the majority of fines being issued to drivers for parking on double yellow lines, blocking junctions and ignoring time restrictions.

Martin Terry, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said: “London Road runs for 6.5km from Southend High Street to the borough boundary.

It is a very long main road, and it is disappointing for it to be compared nationally with high streets and much smaller bus lanes, for example, which have similar figures, but are much shorter roads or areas.

“Parking regulations along London Road are vital for a number of reasons, including limited waiting orders for example to help local businesses and traders maintain a customer turnover along with several necessary waiting and loading restrictions that are in place at key areas and junctions tomaintain traffic flow and safety.

“London Road also generates a very high degree of traffic in and out of the borough and regulations and enforcement ensure accessibility, free flow of traffic and safety.”

He added: “In an ideal world there would be no contraventions and no need for any enforcement, but sadly that is not the case here or anywhere else across the country.”

One businessman working in London Road, who asked not to be named, said the council was right to take action if people park illegally.

He said: “We think the fines are a good thing, you can park free for one hour and do all your shopping and you must not come back within four hours.

“You find when it isn’t enforced people just park where they like and for longer.

“People know the rules and in a car park you would expect to pay, so it is no different just because it is on a road.”