Drivers have had to fork out £150,000 in parking fines from local car parks across Warwick district so far this year, a freedom of information request has revealed.

Motorists have already paid more in penalty charge notices (PCN) to Warwick District Council (WDC) this year than they did in the whole of 2023.

Last year the local authority took £143,142,92 from vehicle owners who had not paid to pay in the various council-run car parks across the district.

But by the end of July 2024 fines totalling some £149,969.51 had already been paid to WDC.

In Kenilworth alone, the number of PCN's handed out across last year was 921, while 1,096 have already been issued in the first seven months of 2024.

In Warwick, 1,800 were recorded in 2023 compared to 2,170 already this year.

A council report said increased parking enforcement was introduced in July 2023.

The news comes as WDC once again looks to put up parking charges in its car parks for next year.

Proposals to add 10p to most charges across the board were discussed by cabinet last week as part of the council's budget setting for 2025-26.

They represent a higher rate of increase to shorter stays with the council's report saying it "has the effect of reducing the impact of the price increase the longer the customer stays". 

A WDC report forecasts the local authority will bring in £4,240,000 from its car parks this year, with this planned to rise to £4,693,000 next year.

"For 2024/25 car park income levels [year to date] have exceeded the original forecast, driven by increased demand," the report said.

"In addition, PCN income continues to remain high, a trend that has been in place since the parking service underwent an alignment in July 2023, with increased parking enforcement."

WDC is responsible for PCN notices in its car parks across Warwick district, on-street parking is managed by Warwickshire County Council.