Cardiff council has been dubbed the “greediest council in Wales” as it emerged that the town hall brings in almost £16.5 million in parking charges and bus lane fines, an average of £104 per household. This is more than double the total revenue of Swansea council, the next biggest revenue raiser. It is also 50 per cent more per household than Swansea council, which came in second for revenue raised per household.
The figures were revealed by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, which is campaigning against what it calls the family car tax, or the van tax in Cardiff. This is a plan by the council to charge heavier vehicles more to park in the city, with vehicles above 2,400kg being targeted initially, falling to 2,000kg shortly after its introduction. As part of this campaign, the TPA will be in Cardiff today (Tuesday 24th March) to collect signatures for a petition.
Cardiff council raised almost as much revenue in parking revenue as the bottom two thirds of councils combined. Fifteen Welsh councils raised a total of £16.6 million in parking fees and bus lane fines, compared to Cardiff’s £16.5 million. One council, the Vale of Glamorgan, didn’t raise a penny in parking fees and bus lane fines from motorists. Other major revenue raisers include Carmarthenshire, which raised £3.5 million, and Conwy and Pembrokeshire, which both raised £3.3 million.
The largest increase in total revenue from parking fees and bus lane fines, from 2019-20 to 2024-25 was Cardiff council, which added £1.3 million. In percentage terms, Blaenau Gwent had the largest increase, with its revenue more than doubling from £30,000 to £70,000 over the same period.
In total, Welsh councils raised £56 million in parking charges and bus lane fines in 2024-25, up from £48.1 million in 2019-20, a 16.3 per cent increase.
Key findings:
Cardiff council is becoming the first council in the UK to levy higher charges for parking heavier vehicles, including family cars and vans, within the city’s limits. The initial weight limit of 2,400kg will fall to 2,000kg shortly after introduction.
Welsh councils raised £56 million in parking fees and bus lane charges, up from £48.1 million in 2019-20, £7.9 million or 16.3 per cent increase.
Councils raised an average of £40 per household in parking fees and bus lane charges in 2024-25.
Cardiff council raised the most in parking fees and bus lane charges of the 22 Welsh councils, with a total income of £16.5 million in 2024-25, an increase of £1.3 million or 8.3 per cent since 2019-20, when the council raised £15.2 million.
This is almost equivalent to the bottom fifteen Welsh councils, which raised a combined £16.6 million in 2024-25
Swansea council raised the second most in parking fees and bus lane charges, with a total income of £7.5 million in 2024-25, an increase of £1.1 million or 17.2 per cent compared to 2019-20. This was followed by Carmarthenshire, which raised £3.5 million, an increase of £743,600 or 27.4 per cent compared to 2019-20.
Blaenau Gwent had the largest increase in percentage terms of revenue raised from parking charges and bus lane fees, with an increase of 133 per cent, £30,000 to £70,000, from 2019-20 to 2024-25. This was followed by Torfaen, where revenues increased by 115 per cent, from £106,000 to £228,000, between 2019-20 and 2024-25. Next was Newport, where revenues increased by 97 per cent, from £637,000 to £1.26 million from 2019-20 to 2024-25.
Cardiff council also raised the most per household, with £104 per household, followed by Swansea council which raised £68 per household and Conwy which raised £64 per household.
Vale of Glamorgan was the only council which reported raising no revenue from parking charges and bus lane fees in 2024-25. In 2019-20 it raised £738,000.
William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said…..
“Taxpayers in Cardiff will be horrified to learn that they live in the greediest council in Wales.
Shockingly the capital’s covetous council is seeking to further hammer motorists as it plans to bring in higher charges for parking heavier vehicles, in particular family cars and vans.
Cardiff council should put an urgent end to the family car and van tax, and look for ways to ease the burden on drivers in the city.”
