Requests made by Labour under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that in 2013/14 the total amount in parking charges and fines collected across those 214 councils responding was £891 million, suggesting that the total across England could be as much as £1.38 billion, up from £1.32 billion the previous year.

A representative sample of 214 of 326 councils across England (66 per cent) responded to Labour’s survey.

Conservative authorities took in £31.69 per resident in parking charges and fines, 41 per cent more than the £22.50 per resident for Labour authorities.

Across London, the total amount in parking charges and fines collected in the last year across 20 boroughs was £327 million, suggesting that the total across London, correcting for population, could be as much as £523 million. 

In London, 20 of 32 boroughs answered the survey.

 Conservative boroughs took in £96.23 per resident in parking charges and fines, more than twice as much as the £46.42 per resident for Labour boroughs.

Westminster alone took in £81 million in charges and fines last year.

Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Local Government Secretary, commenting on the figures, said:

“David Cameron and Eric Pickles claimed they would bring parking charges and fines down but they have completely failed. Our research reveals that it is Tory councils that are making most money from charges and fines. Once again, their promises have proved to be nothing but hot air.

“It’s now clear that Christmas shoppers and local businesses will feel the greatest pinch if they have a Tory council.”