Parking Services Annual Report 2018-2019
Source: data.gov.uk (2024-02-23)

Bristol City Council Parking Account. A breakdown of income and expenditure on the authority’s parking account. The breakdown of income must include details of revenue collected from on-street parking, off-street parking and Penalty Charge Notices

A breakdown of how the authority has spent a surplus on its parking account.

Updated March 2019 
 
1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Parking Services 
Annual Report 
2018-19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
2 
 
Table of Contents 
 
 
 
Page Number 
1.  
Summary 
2 
2.  
Joint Local Transport Plan 3 (JLTP3)  
3 
3.  
Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN), MetroBus & Bus Lane 
Enforcement 
4 
4.  
Neighbourhood Partnerships  
4 
5.  
School Parking  
5 
6.  
Managing Performance 
5 
7.  
Events Occurring in 2018-19 
5 
8.  
Car parking 
6 
9.  
Permits 
8 
10.  
Enforcement activity – bus lane restrictions 
9 
11.  
Penalty Charge Notice statistics 
10 
12.  
Financial statements 
16 
13.  
Contact details & useful links 
18 
 
 
 
1. Summary 
 
This is Bristol City Council’s eleventh annual report for Parking Services.   
 
Our first annual report outlined the background and history of the service since Bristol City 
Council took on the powers of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement in April 2000. 
 
Subsequent reports look at changes and developments made to the service and examines 
how the service supports a range of corporate policies and transport initiatives.  Reports 
outline the individual services provided, projects undertaken and planned, issues facing the 
service and a financial statement.  Performance is demonstrated through a series of Key 
Performance Indicators (KPIs). 
 
Parking Services Annual Reports are published on the Parking Services pages of the 
Bristol City Council website at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/policies-plans-strategies/parking-
policies-reports. 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
3 
 
 
2. Joint Local Transport Plan 3 
 
Parking Services continues to support JLTP3’s vision, which: 
 
“is for a network of safe, convenient and accessible parking facilities, provided and 
managed as part of an integrated transport system.  Our aim is to support the local 
economy, protect the environment, regenerate city and town centres and reduce 
congestion and traffic growth.” 
 
JLTP3 has five main transport goals and appropriate management of parking can 
contribute to all of them: 
 
Reduce carbon emissions: 
Bristol City Council (BCC) actively supports this aim with a number of activities completed 
in recent years and others in development. 
 
Support economic growth: 
Effective management of parking facilities can support economic growth: 
• High long stay tariffs helps to deter commuter traffic. 
• Low short stay tariffs encourage parking by visitors, shoppers and leisure users. 
• Turnover of spaces can also be achieved by restricting the maximum length of stay, 
particularly in city centre Pay & Display areas and limited waiting areas in district 
shopping areas. 
 
Accessibility: 
A number of factors can increase accessibility: 
• All main council car parks include dedicated disabled bays. 
• Enforcement of main bus corridors, especially at peak times, supports local bus 
services, which are vitally important, both to promote bus travel as a sustainable choice 
for those with vehicles but also as an essential travel method for those without 
alternative options. 
 
Safety, health & security: 
Parking Services plays an important part in managing the highway network to ensure that 
the movement of all traffic, whether vehicle, cycle or pedestrian is as safe as possible. 
• Enforcement of bus lanes and parking restrictions reduces hold ups, especially at peak 
times, and enables the network to move freely by reducing congestion. 
• Clear bus lanes enable bus operators to meet timetables and provide better customer 
service.  Clear bus lanes also enhance safety for cyclists.  
• Enforcement of school zigzags has also been a priority in recent years to increase 
safety around schools and to help promote children walking and cycling to school. 
 
Quality of life: 
Like most cities Bristol has conflicting demands for limited parking places in both city 
centre and residential areas.  Managing the available space is a balance between 
promoting economic vitality, deterring commuter traffic and managing resident’s parking – 
particularly in the areas immediately surrounding the city centre where pressure for parking 
is greatest.   
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
4 
 
Bristol has had a resident’s scheme for city centre residents’ for a number of years, and 
our first Residents’ Parking Scheme outside the direct city centre was successfully 
introduced in 2010-11.  Bristol’s first elected Mayor saw the implementation of Residents’ 
Parking Schemes as a significant means of improving quality life and controlling traffic 
problems. BCC implemented an additional 12 schemes over 2014-15 and 2015-16. Work 
continues to monitor and review the schemes. 
 
For further information on JLTP3, please visit http://travelwest.info/projects/joint-local-
transport-plan. 
 
For further information on Residents’ Parking Schemes, please visit 
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/rps 
 
 
 
3. Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN), Metro Bus & Bus Lane Enforcement 
 
Parking Services’ enforcement officers play a significant role in the success of GBBN’s 
showcase bus routes.  Enforcement of bus lanes ensures that the bus routes are kept 
clear during their hours of operation.  This means that congestion is reduced, safety for 
cyclists is improved and buses are able to run on time.  These improvements encourge 
commuters to use more sustainable modes of transport which in turn reduces congestion, 
improves road safety and improves air quaility. 
 
Parking Services works in conjunction with the Council’s Traffic Control Centre to monitor 
the bus lanes by CCTV and a programme of development has been established to extend 
coverage to all bus lanes. 
 
Building on from the success of the GBBN, the Council has introduced a new MetroBus 
network, offering faster, more frequent and more reliable services with direct routes to key 
destinations. MetroBus is part of the West of England’s Combined Authorities (WECA) plan 
to reduce carbon emissions, support sustainable economic growth, promote accessibility, 
contribute to better safety, security and health, improve quality of life and create a healthy 
natural environment as well as improvements to rail via MetroWest. 
  
Parking Services also manages a number of district car parks near to the regional 
shopping areas affected by GBBN routes.  These car parks provide parking for customers 
of local businesses and these are managed and enforced in a way that promotes turnover 
of spaces to allow customers to enjoy their shopping and leisure activities without causing 
undue congestion on the arterial routes at peak times. 
 
More information about the Metrobus scheme can be found at 
https://metrobusbristol.co.uk/ 
 
 
4. Neighbourhood Partnerships  
 
Parking Services regularly attends Neighbourhood Forums meetings where staff answer 
specific questions from local residents and discuss the enforcement activity that takes 
place in their neighbourhood.  
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
5 
 
Issues raised at these meetings often lead to ‘Days of Action’, where enforcement officers 
from the Police, Parking Services, DVLA & Street Scene all work together to target a 
specific location for a day.  
 
Parking Services also supports other operations led by the Police and the Safer Bristol 
Partnership (SBP).  Parking Services works closely with the SBP to enforce the pedestrian 
zone in the Corn Street area within the city centre during its hours of operation.  
 
Particular instances to have occurred this year include the enforcement of the Parry’s Lane 
limited waiting area. Having had the concerned raised a concentrated effort for two weeks 
of dedicated enforcement was undertaken and we continue to work in conjunction with the 
partnership to explore the possibility of changing of the restriction in place. 
 
More detail on Neighbourhood Partnerships and Neighbourhood Forums can be found at: 
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/people-communities/neighbourhood-partnerships. 
 
 
 
5. School Parking 
 
Bristol City Council has a programme for updating parking restrictions around schools.  
This initiative is twofold – it aims to improve safety around the schools by reducing the 
risks from vehicular traffic and also encourages parents and children to travel to school in 
more sustainable ways.  The Council’s Road Safety team actively works with schools and 
parents to encourage walking and cycling to school and Parking Services is pleased to be 
able to support these activities by enforcing the parking restrictions.   
 
Parking restrictions around schools with enforceable markings are now being undertaken 
using the Council’s CCTV Camera Car.  Operated by trained Civil Enforcement Officers, 
this equipment enables a much larger number of schools to be enforced during the very 
limited times of the day when the restrictions are being abused (at the start and end of the 
school day).  The camera car records the evidence required to issue a Penalty Charge 
Notices which are reviewed and approved by staff before being issued to drivers through 
the post. 
 
 
6. Managing performance 
 
In addition to those activities measured by corporate or national indicators, Parking 
Services also regularly assesses its own performance to ensure that customer service 
levels are being maintained and to identify any potential problems as soon as they occur.   
 
The following chapters in this annual report explain Parking Services’ main work areas in 
more detail and review performance and trends in a number of key areas.  These chapters 
will demonstrate the work done within the teams and the levels of customer service being 
achieved.  Figures for last year have also been included to show how performance and 
trends are changing over time. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
6 
 
7. Events Occurring in 2018-19 
 
Sunday charging was re-introduced within the Central Parking Zone to support the existing 
Transport Policies within the Joint Local Transport Plan. Having been approved by the Full 
Council, the charges became operative on 3rd September 2018. 
 
 
A new Parking Permit Area (PPA) was introduced at Pitlochry Close, near to Southmead 
Hospital, becoming operative in September 2018.  
 
Following on from the condition surveys of West End and Temple Gate multi-storey car 
parks, work began to undertake some of the structural repairs at Temple Gate. This will be 
an ongoing process, continuing into 2019-20. 
 
In-line with the Metro Bus scheme, new locations of bus lane enforcement was introduced, 
at Stoke Lane and Colston Avenue. Stoke Lane consists of 2 cameras, which became 
operative on 26th April 2018, whereas Colston Avenue became operative on 22nd March 
2019. The M3 service was the first to go live in May 2018, followed by the M2 in 
September and finally the M1 in January 2019. 
 
Having awarded a new contract to our cashless parking provider, RingGo, a complete 
signage refresh was undertaken throughout the city during the first quarter of the year. 
 
A full review of all Residents Parking Schemes started this year. Residents were consulted 
on the effectiveness of each scheme and on any changes they felt were necessary. A 
number of schemes were amended as a result, changes in some areas included alteration 
of charging days and/or hours. 
 
 
8. Car Parking 
 
Bristol City Council is able to support transport policy through the way it operates and 
charges for parking spaces depending on their location and use.  However, Parking 
Services is only responsible for Council operated public car parks and for on street parking 
provision.  One of the biggest challenges facing Bristol City Council is how to influence the 
operators of commercial, non-residential car parks to take a similar view when setting their 
own hours of operation and charges.  
 
The role of the Council’s MSCPs and 5 of the surface car parks is primarily to provide long 
stay parking.  The remaining short stay surface car parks provide parking for visitors and 
shoppers and are largely located near shopping areas or places that attract large numbers 
of visitors.  Short stay parking allows for higher turnover of spaces to maximise 
accessibility to those areas to promote the use of local businesses and leisure facilities.  
 
District car parks are located near local shopping areas throughout the outer areas of the 
city.  They facilitate parking for those using local amenities. Whilst these car parks are 
currently free to park in, the Council has consulted on the introduction of charging in some 
locations and this will now be progressed to formal consultation through the Traffic 
Regulation Order process.  Prices and length of stay will largely reflect the regime in the 
surrounding Residents’ Parking Scheme area.  This will ensure that the car parking spaces 
remain available to serve local shops and leisure attractions. 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
7 
 
On street parking facilities are rationed by price and maximum length of stay according to 
their location within the central Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). Payment is available on 
street through pay and display machines or using a cashless service provided by our 
contractor RingGo. 
 
This process of updating our older models of pay and display machines continued during 
the year with phase 3 complete. The fourth and final phase is scheduled for completion in 
2019-20. 
 
 
Current parking tariffs are shown in the following table: 
 
Type of Parking 
Number 
of 
spaces 
Stay? 
Evening 
Charge? 
Cost 
Park & Ride Sites (3) 
3300 
Long Stay 
Parking is free 
Free 
Multi-Storey Car Park (3) 
1733 
Long Stay 
Yes 
Up to £12.00 
Surface Car Park (5) 
348 
Long Stay 
Yes 
Up to £12.00 
Surface Car Park (7) 
687 
Short Stay 
Yes 
Up to £5.00 
District Car Park (24) 
889 
Long Stay 
Parking is free 
Free 
On Street in CPZ 
1750 
1 to 4 hours 
Yes 
Up to £5.00 
Kingsdown RPS 
510 
3 hours 
Yes 
Up to £3.00 
Redcliffe RPS 
131 
3 hours 
Yes 
Up to £3.00 
Cotham RPS 
747 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Easton & St Phillips RPS 
610 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Cliftonwood & Hotwells RPS 
345 
3 or 4 hours 
Yes 
Up to £4.00 
Cotham North RPS 
469 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Redland RPS 
191 
3 or 4 hours 
No 
Up to £4.00 
Bower Ashton RPS 
358 
3 hours 
Yes 
Up to £3.00 
St Pauls RPS 
12 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Clifton Village RPS 
923 
3 or 5 hours 
In some 
locations 
Up to £5.00 
Clifton East RPS 
845 
3 hours 
In some 
locations 
Up to £3.00 
Montpelier RPS 
255 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Bedminster East RPS 
364 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Southville RPS 
518 
3 hours 
No 
Up to £3.00 
Spike Island RPS 
137 
3 hours 
Yes 
Up to £3.00 
 
There are also three Park and Ride sites serving Bristol City Centre.  For further details for 
all three sites, please visit www.bristol.gov.uk/parkandride  
 
Bristol City Council run car parks also generally have a number of dedicated disabled 
parking bays and electric vehicle charging points. The breakdown of the number of 
charging point bays and their locations can be found here: 
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/parking/electric-vehicle-parking. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
8 
 
 
9. Permits 
 
A variety of on-street parking permits are issued by Parking Services:   
 
Permit Type 
Number Issued 
during 
2017-18 
Number 
Issued during 
2018-19 
CPZ Residents’ Parking Permits 
367 
349 
Permits for Kingsdown RPS 
1,615 
1,662 
Permits for Cotham RPS 
1,937 
2,010 
Permits for Redcliffe RPS 
192 
253 
Permits for Easton & St Phillips RPS 
1,174 
1,220 
Permits for Cliftonwood & Hotwells RPS 
2,101 
2,132 
Permits for Cotham North RPS 
2,716 
2,721 
Permits for Redland RPS 
1,016 
931 
Permits for Bower Ashton RPS 
41 
40 
Permits for St Pauls RPS 
979 
1,145 
Permits for Clifton Village RPS 
5,788 
5,623 
Permits for Clifton East RPS 
3,515 
3,567 
Permits for Montpelier RPS 
1,433 
1,428 
Permits for Bedminster East RPS 
638 
594 
Permits for Southville RPS 
3,046 
3,402 
Permits for Spike Island RPS 
215 
249 
Multiple RPS permits (trader/medical etc) 
1,119 
1,213 
Permits for Pitlochry Close PPA 
N/A 
11 
Total 
27,897 
28,550 
 
Depending on the scheme the standard first permit price is either £30 or £48 with second 
and third permits and all customer and business permits being more expensive.   
For full details of permit prices and eligibility criteria please see: 
 
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/rps 
 
Parking permits can also be bought for some Council Car Parks: 
 
Location 
Annual Price (excluding VAT) 
District Car Parks 
£157.50 
Queen Square 
£2,080.00 
Temple Gate 
£1,560.00 
Trenchard 
£2,080.00 
West End 
£1,820.00 
 
Numbers are limited and some locations may have waiting lists.  Reserved bays are also 
available in some locations for an additional cost.   
 
As an alternative to annual parking permits it is also possible to buy packs of 20 pre-paid 
parking tickets for use in Trenchard and/or West End multi-storey car parks.  These cost 
£216 (including VAT) per pack. 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
9 
 
 
10. Enforcement Activity – Bus Lane restrictions 
 
Bus lane PCNs are issued to unauthorised vehicles using those bus lanes that are 
currently enforceable.  A rolling programme of works means more and more bus lanes will 
be enforced over time as Traffic Regulations Orders are amended and cameras are 
installed.  Keeping the bus lanes clear for authorised vehicles (including buses, taxis, 
motorcycles and emergency response vehicles) ensures that authorised vehicles, 
particularly buses are able to travel more freely.  This enables the bus timetables to be met 
and aims to make travelling by more sustainable modes of transport a more attractive 
option than driving. 
 
A number of fixed cameras were introduced in 2012-13 which enable bus lanes and bus 
gates to be monitored remotely at all times of day and night.  Images of each contravention 
are recorded and reviewed by an officer before Penalty Charge Notices are issued by post.  
 
As the statistics show, compliance has remained steady although the overall number of 
PCNs has increased with the addition of new camera sites. During this reporting year 2 
new locations were introduced; Stoke Lane in April and Colston Avenue in March. In both 
locations a ‘soft enforcement’ period took place, whereby warning notices were issued for 
a period of time before regular enforcement began. Contravention levels at Stoke Lane in 
particular were very high in the first couple of month of enforcement, which has led to a 
significant increase in the overall number of Bus Lane PCNs issued. This subsequently 
reduced with compliance. 
 
Figures are also affected by external considerations such as roadworks. 
 
Bus Lane 
PCNs during 
2017-18 
PCNs during 
2018-19 
Variance 
A38 Bedminster Parade 
933 
1,105 
+18% 
A37 Wells Road 
7,128 
4,829 
-32% 
A38 Cheltenham Road 
1,408 
1,066 
-24% 
A38 Gloucester Road 
3,052 
2,477 
-19% 
A432 Fishponds Road 
3,987 
2,019 
-49% 
A420 Church Road corridor 
2,743 
2,293 
-16% 
A4 Bath Road corridor 
18,778 
14,249 
-24% 
A4018 Whiteladies Road 
437 
384 
-12% 
Union Street 
2,827 
2,464 
-13% 
Romney Avenue 
6,974 
5,838 
-16% 
Colston Street 
2,665 
4,538 
+70% 
Colston Avenue 
N/A 
138 
N/A 
Stoke Lane 
N/A 
18,024 
N/A 
Total 
50,932 
59,424 
+17% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
10 
 
11. Penalty Charge Notice Statistics 
 
Number PCNs issued 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
On Street 
91,233 
95,822 
+5% 
Off Street 
6,864 
7,111 
+4% 
Sub total 
98,097 
102,933 
+5% 
Bus Lane 
50,932 
59,424 
+17% 
Total 
149,029 
162,357 
+9% 
 
93% of all parking PCNs are issued in on street locations.  All parking notices are either 
attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, while all bus lane PCNs are issued by post.   
 
Why are PCNs issued? 
 
A significant number of PCNs are issued for contraventions relating to on street Pay & 
Display areas.  These include offences such as not displaying a valid permit or Pay & 
Display ticket or for displaying an expired ticket.  With over almost 1,700 on street Pay & 
Display bays in central Bristol and a further 7,700 within the RPS areas it is important to 
ensure that the bays are used correctly.  Time limits and prices are designed to ensure a 
level of turnover that supports the local economy by ensuring that shoppers and visitors 
are able to park near to their destination.   
 
A large number of parking PCNs are issued for contraventions relating to Yellow Line 
offences, which include situations where a vehicle has parked on a Double Yellow Line or 
on a Single Yellow Line outside the permitted hours.  Control of this type of contravention 
is aimed at reducing congestion and improving road safety, especially on the arterial routes 
into and out of the city centre at peak times.  These are also linked to loading and 
unloading contraventions, which also typically take place on the arterial routes at peak 
times. 
 
 
Reasons for PCN issue remain consistent, apart from a rise in bus lane contraventions. 
This is because we have introduced 2 new camera locations.  

 
Updated March 2019 
 
11 
 
 
 
Vehicle Removals 
 
Parking Services does not clamp vehicles and vehicle removals are only used for 
contraventions that have an impact on congestion or pose a hazard.  Vehicles with multiple 
unpaid PCNs may also be removed.   
 
402 vehicles were removed in 2018-19, 95% of which were for obstructions on arterial 
routes during peak hours when No Waiting and No Loading restrictions were in force. 
 
Differential Charging 
 
Part VI of the Traffic Management Act 2004 introduced Differential Charging on 31st March 
2008.  It designated a number of more serious contraventions and allowed Local 
Authorities to impose a higher charge than for less serious contraventions. 
 
Bristol City Council charges £70 for a higher-level PCN and £50 for a lower-level PCN. 
Both amounts are discounted by 50% if the charge is paid within 14 days of the PCN being 
issued.  Higher level contraventions include yellow line and loading / unloading offences, 
while lower level contraventions include Pay & Display and limited waiting offences. 
 
In 2018-19 62% of PCNs issued by Bristol City Council were for higher-level 
contraventions and 38% were for lower level contraventions (compared to 66% and 34% 
respectively in 2017-18).   
 
Bus Lane PCNs are not categorised in this way as they are issued under the Transport Act 
2000.  The charge for a Bus Lane PCN is £60 (discounted to £30 if paid within 14 days). 
 
 
Appeals against PCNs 
 
Anyone in receipt of a PCN can challenge it.  There are different types of challenges, 
representations and appeals: 
• An informal challenge is one submitted before a Notice to Owner (NTO) is issued. 
• A formal representation is one received after a Notice to Owner has been issued.  
This category also includes initial appeals against a PCN where a vehicle has been 
removed and all bus lane appeals. 
• A formal appeal is one issued to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT), which is the 
independent parking adjudication service. 
 
Challenges and representations must be made to Bristol City Council in writing.  There are 
several ways to do this: 
• By letter to Parking Services, PO Box 3176, Bristol, BS3 9FS 
• By email to xxx@xxx.xx 
• Online at https://parkingappeals.bristol.gov.uk/ 
• In person at the Council’s Citizen Service Point. 
 
Formal appeals are made directly to TPT, either online or using forms provided by the 
Council in the event of an unsuccessful formal representation.   
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
12 
 
Type of Appeal Received 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
Informal Challenge 
18,360 
16,867 
-8% 
Formal Representations (Parking) 
2,911 
2,514 
-14% 
Formal Representations (Camera Car) 
2 
7 
+250% 
TPT Appeals (Parking) 
122 
168 
+38% 
Parking PCN Sub total 
21,295 
19,556 
-8% 
Formal Representations (Bus Lanes) 
8,157 
6,506 
-20% 
TPT Appeals (Bus Lanes) 
144 
164 
+14% 
Bus Lane PCN Sub total 
8,301 
6,670 
-20% 
Total 
29,596 
26,226 
-11% 
Figures relate to the number of appeals received in each financial year, irrespective of when the PCN was 
issued.   
 
Percentage of PCNs resulting in an appeal 
 
Type of Representation / Appeal 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
Informal Challenges 
19% 
16% 
+3% 
Formal Representations (Parking) 
3% 
2% 
-1% 
Formal Representations (Camera Car) 
<1% 
<1% 
- 
TPT Appeals (Parking) 
<1% 
<1% 
- 
Parking PCN Sub Total 
22% 
19% 
-3% 
Formal Representations (Bus Lanes) 
16% 
11% 
-5% 
TPT Appeals (Bus Lane) 
<1% 
<1% 
- 
Bus Lane PCN Sub total 
16% 
11% 
-5% 
Overall 
20% 
16% 
-4% 
Figures show the number of appeals received in each financial year (irrespective of when the PCN was 
issued) as a percentage of the PCNs that were issued during the financial year. 
 
In terms of parking PCNS, overall there was a 5% increase in the number of PCNs issued 
and a 3% decrease in the number of appeals received.  The proportion of PCNs resulting 
in an appeal has therefore continues to decrease. 
 
Similarly, the number of bus lane PCNs increased by 17% and the number of appeals has 
also decreased by 5% so the proportion of PCNs that resulted in an appeal has also 
decreased. 
 
 
Outcome of Informal Challenges & Formal Representations 
 
Type of Representation / Appeal 
% Appeals 
Upheld 
2017-18 
% Appeals 
Upheld 
2018-19 
Variance 
Informal Challenge 
52% 
54% 
+2% 
Formal Representation (Parking CEO) 
34% 
48% 
+14% 
Formal Representation (Parking camera car) 
30% 
55% 
+25% 
Formal Representation (Bus Lane) 
59% 
58% 
-1%% 
Total 
50% 
54% 
+4% 
These figures compare the position at the end of each financial year, and exclude cases that were still 
awaiting a decision at that time. 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
13 
 
Type of Representation / Appeal 
% Appeals 
Rejected 
2017-18 
% Appeals 
Rejected 
2018-19 
Variance 
Informal Challenge 
48% 
46% 
-2% 
Formal Representation (Parking CEO) 
66% 
52% 
-14% 
Formal Representation (Parking camera car) 
70% 
45% 
-25% 
Formal Representation (Bus Lane) 
41% 
42% 
+1% 
Total 
50% 
46% 
-4% 
These figures compare the position at the end of each financial year, and exclude cases that were still 
awaiting a decision at that time. 
 
Outcome of TPT Appeals 
 
Outcome of Appeals 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
Appeal Upheld 
28% 
29% 
+1% 
Appeal Rejected 
34% 
42% 
+8% 
Appeal Not Contested 
38% 
29% 
-9% 
 
 
Payment of PCNs 
 
 
2018-19 represents final outcome of cases issued between April 2016 and September 2017 
2017-18 represents final outcome of cases issued between April 2015 and September 2016 
 
It typically takes approximately 18 months for PCNs to be paid, cancelled or written off.  As 
shown in the chart above, 76% of PCNs are paid and the remainder are either written off, if 
we are unable to trace the keeper or collect payment, or cancelled following a successful 
challenge, representation or appeal. 
 
As shown in the following table, the majority of PCNs are paid at the discounted rate. 
 
Payment Type 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
Paid at discounted rate 
80% 
79% 
-1% 
Paid at full rate 
12% 
12% 
0% 
Paid at Charge Certificate 
3% 
3% 
0% 
Paid after TEC Registration 
5% 
6% 
+1% 
% of PCNs paid at each rate as a percentage of all paid PCNs as at 01.06.19 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
14 
 
 
Cancelled PCNs 
 
A PCN may be cancelled as a result of a successful challenge, representation or appeal.  
The graph below shows the main reasons why PCNs are cancelled and the percentage of 
cases cancelled for each reason.   
 
 
 
 
 
Unpaid PCNs 
 
Debts from outstanding PCNs are registered with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at 
Northampton County Court. 
 
If the debt remains unpaid the case is referred to a firm of Enforcement Agents, which has 
12 months to execute the warrant from the County Court.   
 
 
2017-18 
2018-19 
Variance 
Number of debts registered at TEC 
23,093 
22,533 
-2% 
Number of debts referred to EAs 
21,076 
18,926 
-10% 
% PCNs recovered by EAs* 
29% 
29% 
- 
*Number of PCNs successfully recovered as a % of PCNs with warrants issued to the bailiff per annum. 
 
Cases where the Enforcement Agent is unable to recover the debt and cases where the 
registered keeper cannot be traced are written off.  If the Agent is unsuccessful, the 
warrants will be returned and cases will be written off. 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
15 
 
Written Off PCNs 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
16 
 
 
12. Financial Statement - 2018-19 Section 55 Parking Summary 
 
Income from Decriminalised Parking Enforcement is known as Section 55 income and, 
under the terms of DPE, must be spent on Transport related activities.  Income from other 
Parking Services’ activities (such as car parking income) is not restricted in this way. 
 
The following table shows the breakdown of Parking Services’ Section 55 income and 
expenditure and also shows how the resulting surplus has been spent. 
 
Parking Enforcement - Section 55 Statement 
2018/19 
Income 
Expenditure 
General Income 
£968,000 
PCN Income 
£3,297,000 
On Street Pay & Display Income 
£6,866,000  
RPS Permits 
£2,011,000 
Total Income 
£13,142,000 
Employees 
 £3,280,000 
Premises Costs 
 £54,000 
Supplies & Services 
  £530,000 
Third Party Payments 
£400,000 
Transport 
£98,000 
Support Services 
£238,000 
Capital Financing Costs* 
£1,499,000 
Total Expenditure 
£6,099,000  
Operating Surplus 
£7,043,000 
Overhead Allocation 
 £846,000 
Net Surplus before transfer to reserves 
£6,197,000 
 
 
 
Transfer to reserves 
£0 
Net Surplus after transfer to reserves 
£6,197,000 
This surplus has contributed to expenditure on the following allowable items: 
Gross Expenditure on Allowable Items 
Provision of Off-Street Parking 
£3,202,000 
Park & Ride Schemes 
£971,000 
Highways & Traffic Signals & Lighting 
 £5,585,000 
Total Allowable Expenditure 
 £9,758,000 
Excess of Allowable Expenditure Over Net Surplus 
 £3,561,000 
* Charges have been done as a budget reduction. 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
17 
 
2018-19 Bus Lane Enforcement Summary 
 
Income from Bus Lane Enforcement under the Transport Act 2000 must also be accounted 
for separately and any surplus income must also be spent on Transport related activities 
(Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 2757, Part 7, Regulation 36).   
 
The following table shows the breakdown of Parking Services’ Bus Lane Enforcement 
income and expenditure and also shows how the resulting surplus has been spent. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bus Lane Enforcement - Regulation 36 Statement   
2018/19 
Income 
Expenditure 
Bus Lane Account (10275) 
Income 
£1,779,000 
Expenditure 
Employees 
 
      £257,000  
Premises 
 
        £0  
Transport 
 
         £0 
Supplies & Services 
 
      £218,000 
Third Party Payments 
 
£0  
 
 
£428,000 
 
 
 
Operating Surplus 
£1,304,000 
 
 
 
Overheads (share of parking overheads) 
     £ 34,000 
Net Surplus before transfer to reserves 
£1,270,000 
 
 
 
 
Transfer to Reserves 
 
    £0 
Net Surplus after transfer to reserves 
£1,270,000 
 
This surplus has contributed to expenditure on the following allowable items: 
Passenger Transport - Services 
 
  £3,097,000 
Concessionary Fares 
 
  £6,621,000 
Total Allowable Expenditure 
£9,718,000  
Excess of Allowable Expenditure over Net Surplus: 
£8,448,000 
 
 

 
Updated March 2019 
 
18 
 
13. Contact Details & Useful Links. 
 
Parking Services: 
 
 
Email 
xxx@xxx.xx or  
xxx@xxx.xx  
Website 
www.bristol.gov.uk/parking  
 
Post 
Parking Services 
Bristol City Council 
PO Box 3176 
Bristol 
BS3 9FS 
 
General Telephone Enquiries 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Fax 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
PCN Enquiries 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Bay Suspensions 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
To report an illegally parked vehicle 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
 
 
Payment Facilities: 
 
 
Automated Telephone Payment Line 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Online Payment facility 
www.bristol.gov.uk/pay  
In person at the Citizen Service Point 
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/csp  
 
 
Other Useful Numbers: 
 
 
Abandoned Vehicles 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
 
Blue Badges, Disabled Bays, Residents’ 
Parking Permits and Concessionary 
Travel Cards 
 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Car Pound 
 
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Park & Ride Information 
MetroBus 
Residents’ Parking Schemes 
http://www.travelbristol.org/parkandride  
https://metrobusbristol.co.uk/ 
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/rps 
 
Other Organisations: 
 
 
DVLA 
www.dft.gov.uk/dvla  
Traffic Penalty Tribunal 
www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk  
Patrol (for parking enforcement info) 
www.patrol-uk.info  
British Parking Association 
www.britishparking.co.uk  
Security Industry Authority 
www.the-sia.org.uk  
Information on Public Services 
Source West (electric vehicle charging) 
www.direct.gov.uk  
http://www.sourcewest.info/