DRIVERS paid out more than £866,000 in parking fines to Wiltshire Council last year, with 30,000 issued in 12 months by parking attendants.

That is the equivalent of more than £2,300 a day across the county’s local authority-run car parks and highways.

The figure is up £100,000 on 2017, when 24,000 tickets were issued totalling more than £705,000.

Cash from fines is then used by Wiltshire Council to fund public transport and concessionary fares.

Penalty Notice Charges (PCNs) are made when people have parked without a valid ticket, but they are also made when people obstruct entrances to places like schools and use residents’ parking without a permit.

Across the South West, Bristol City Council issued the most fines with 100,518 PCNs making the council £4.8 million.

Research carried out by Confused.com found that 74% of people who appeal parking fines are successful.

Oliver Kirby lives in Trowbridge and has worked at an appealing centre. He said: “A great proportion of appeals are successful- if appeals fail they are sent on to someone else where they’re re-evaluated. So a lot of consideration is put through.”

Cristian Bolton took to social media to add: “I appealed one in Gloucester, and was successful, it was a very friendly and witty letter, non confrontational and just asked them if they would let me off, they replied I had made them laugh and it had brightened their day up.”

Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways said: “We continue to offer free Sunday parking, free park and rides and other free parking initiatives to the local community as part of our overall strategy. 

"While everyone would prefer enforcing parking restriction was not required, if our high streets are to remain accessible, roads unobstructed, school entrances safe and parking is available for residents the enforcement of parking areas plays a vital role.”