Royal Borough to pilot new parking penalty discount scheme

The Royal Borough has given the go-ahead to a scheme which will see people given a 25 percent discount if they lose an appeal against a parking ticket.

The 12-month pilot, which is the first of its kind to be introduced by a local authority in England, was waved through during a meeting of the borough’s cabinet at Windsor Guildhall last night (Thursday).

It will see the borough working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT).

Under current laws, motorists in the borough who unsuccessfully challenge a penalty charge notice (PCN) have to pay the full fine within 28 days of their appeal hearing.

But the DfT says this discourages those who have a credible case for a PCN being rescinded from appealing.

The borough’s parking fine rates are currently either £50 or £70 depending on the offence.

The means for every £70 fine that is unsuccessfully appealed, motorists will get a £17.50 discount under the new scheme.

Cllr Claire Stretton (Con, Boyn Hill) told Cabinet: “I know that a lot of residents feel a parking fine is just a way for the council to raise money.

“That isn’t the reason we do it. We do it to keep a flow of traffic and keep things running correctly.

“I think this underlines the fact that we’re not doing this for the money, we want to get this right.”

The cost of the pilot will be split between the borough and the DfT and will cost a combined £6280.