• 64,700 fines were issued at beachside car parks and surrounding roads last summer
• Total fines issued at beachside car parks and surrounding roads totalled £2.5m million last summer¹
• Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council was the beachside parking ticket hotspot with 3,105 issued in 2019
• Warning ahead of the bank holiday – more parking tickets issued by beachside councils during August than any other month

 

Beach days have shot to the top of the excursion list this summer as Brits opt for a staycation over the risk of travelling abroad. Churchill Car Insurance is warning drivers to beware of parking fines that could put a dampener on such outings, as new research² by the insurer found an estimated 64,700³ fines were issued at beachside car parks and surrounding roads last summer, with fines issued totalling almost £2.5 million.  The average value of a parking fine at a seaside car park or surrounding area in 2019 was £38, accounting for tickets that were either successfully appealed or unpaid. 

Over the course of last year beachside councils issued 1.7 million parking fines, generating revenues totalling an estimated £67.9 million.  August accounted for the highest number of tickets handed out during the summer months, with more than 142,000 tickets issued.

Home to almost 15 miles of the UK’s most stunning coastline, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council was the beachside parking ticket hotspot with 3,105 issued last year. East Riding of Yorkshire Council (2,858) and Thanet District Council (1,979) complete the top three beachside councils issuing tickets in 2019.

Table one: Top ten local authorities by beachside parking tickets issued in 2019

Source: Churchill Car Insurance 2020

With the first bank holiday since lockdown where travel restrictions have been relaxed upon us, Britain’s beaches could see a daily average of almost 387,000⁴ visitors, leaving beachside parking spaces at a premium and, in many places, at a shortage.  To pay on the day for one hour at Brighton’s Russell Road NCP Car Park⁵ you will need to part with £6, jumping to £32 for between four and 24 hours. This expense may help explain why seven million drivers (19 per cent) say they would be willing to run the risk of a fine in order to get a good parking spot to fully enjoy their day at the seaside.

One in 11 motorists (nine per cent) would risk a fine by parking illegally  in a quiet area, while a further six per cent said they’d take a chance if they’d travelled a long way to get to their destination. For six per cent of drivers, the risk of parking illegally is lessened by their belief that Covid-19 will reduce the number of active traffic wardens operating. A further five per cent admitted they would be more likely to park illegally if they saw a large number of other motorists doing the same.

Jane Morgan, Business Manager at Churchill Car Insurance, said: “Many people will have been disappointed to have plans cancelled or changed at the last minute this summer due to the pandemic. With lockdown restrictions lifting and greater freedom on offer, people will be eager to take advantage of the many beautiful beaches closer to home.

“With limited parking spots available we would urge drivers to remain respectful of parking restrictions and to only park in allocated spaces. At busy times, it’s worth researching back up parking options in case a prime sea front spot isn’t available. In order to comply with social distancing measures, we would encourage people to consider less popular destinations as the well-known spots can get overcrowded.”                                              

ENDS

Stay safe when travelling this summer. To make sure your trip is as fun as possible, please remember to check that your car's roadworthy and follow Government guidelines for safe travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you have a great summer.

Notes to Editor

1. By summer we mean June to September
2. FOI to 96 local councils that border the sea issued in July 2020. Of this number 72 (75%) councils responded with usable data. Final figures extrapolated to provide a total estimate covering the remaining councils that did not provide responses.
3. Figures are indicative
4. Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,003 UK adults between 4^th and 7^th August 2020
5. https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/brighton-centre-russell-road/

 

For further information please contact:

Emma Cava 
PR Manager (Motor)
Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 831 715
Email: [email protected]

 

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com