CASH raised from off-street parking fees and charges in Tendring has risen by £195,000 in just four years, it has been revealed.

Freedom of Information requests to North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP), South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) and Essex councils have revealed the parking income raised for the past five financial years.

The results have revealed Tendring Council has raked in more than £2.6 million from off-street parking fees and charges since 2013.

The district’s figures for fees and charges has increased dramatically from £443,658 in 2014/15 to £639,483 in 2017/18.

Penalty Charge Notice figures have been rising since 2015/16 in Tendring.

In 2015/16 the council collected £16,576 from Penalty Charge Notices, the next year it more than doubled to £36,644 and the amount at the 2017/18 financial year was £42,627.

Michael Talbot, Tendring Council’s portfolio holder for environment and public spaces said: “Our car parking facilities have not seen major price rises during this time period.

“The additional income we have received can mainly be put down to the increased use of our car parks. It is great news that while keeping parking charges as low as possible we have seen increased use of our facilities.

“This helps to bring in additional income to the council, benefits businesses right across Tendring by provided a key facility for shoppers and the like, and helps to increase our tourism offering.

“We are in the process of expanding our High Street car park in Clacton to provide additional capacity to help with the increased demand.”

The North Essex Parking Partnership runs on-street parking in Tendring. Its income for pay and display parking in Tendring rose from £12,613 in 2013/14 to £16,753 in 2017/18. Income from residents, visitors, business and carers’ permits went from £11,754 to £28,660 and penalty charge notices from £198,354 to £244,713.

Robert Mitchell, chairman of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: "

Income generated by parking is offset against costs and expenditures to the organisation, and any remaining funds are invested in improving parking services, which includes introducing parking schemes, education programmes, communication and staff training, to name a few.

“We are also looking at a number of innovative methods to work smarter, for instance using technology to provide live parking-space information and help reduce the motorists’ impact on the environment.”

NEPP said “expenditure and costs” to deliver the service need to be considered when looking at how income has risen.