The FTA has said that the half a billion pound profit for councils in England generated by parking fines last year, is a tax on business too.

The record profits from Penalty Charge Notices were reported by the RAC Foundation. The report showed that in 2012-13 a surplus of £594m was made from parking activities. Next year the figure is estimated to rise to about £632 million.

The Association noted that as well as the private motorist, these funds are raised by fining delivery companies who are trying to supply the goods that towns and cities need to keep functioning. FTA’s Head of Urban Logistics Christopher Snelling said, “Many of our members are incorrectly fined as authorities are too eager to judge that they are parked when in fact they are in the legitimate process of delivering to local businesses.   Many fines are also issued incorrectly when we had every right to be delivering in that location.”