NEW government data has revealed Southend Council made £6.4 million in profit from parking fees and fines in the latest financial year.

The data comes from the UK Government’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Traders and councillors in Southend have weighed up the positives and negatives of such a lofty figure, which puts Southend Council at the high end of local authorities in the UK.

Kevin Buck, Southend cabinet member for highways, transport and parking, said: “As a large and popular tourist destination, it is no surprise that Southend has a parking income surplus.

“It is important to stress that parking income is ring fenced by law and any surplus is spent on highways maintenance and repair works, and road resurfacing programmes for example, in-line with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.”

Made with Flourish

Southend Council bosses previously claimed that evening car parking charges on the seafront led to a drop in council revenue.

In April, charges were introduced were introduced in Zone 1A from 6-9pm. This area had previously enjoyed free parking after 6pm.

Figures showed seafront parking income rose from £405,044 in April 2022 to £548,387 in April this year, before dropping to £481,881 in July. Income then increased in August when the charges were scrapped, to £695,746.

The Conservative administration, which scrapped the fees after coming to office, say the figures indicate visitors were put off by the high seafront parking charges.

Seafront traders agree with this and suggest the high profit from parking figures is boosted by more tourists coming to Southend without worrying about late night parking fees.

Paul Thompson, owner of Pebbles One Café on the seafront, said: “I think it’s good the council has made profit because everyone is falling on hard times.

“The amount of profit they’ve made just shows how vital tourism is to the city and council itself.

“If it wasn’t for the seafront and all the attractions here I believe that figure would be a lot lower.”

Mr Thompson also believes that there are ways for the council to improve parking and maintain revenue in Southend.

He added: “I think the new parking spaces that will be introduced are possibly going to focus on electric vehicle charging points and things like that.

“I think that’s a good use of the money, it’ll generate extra revenue for the council and there are two-fold benefits.

“It’ll allow for cars to be off the roads more quickly which reduces traffic flow and it is obviously good for the environment.”

Martin Richardson, owner of Happidrome Arcade on the Seafront, focused more on the parking fines leading to such a high profit for Southend Council.

He said: “As a trader those fines are for people parking illegally, one way to look at it is more people are coming to Southend which is good.

“Another way is those people are having to park illegally and are getting fined, which shows we need more parking spaces here.

“If not, people are going to be deterred from visiting which is ultimately bad for business.”