Freedom of Information investigation by Maryam Patel
Millions of pounds in parking fines were raked in by Leicester City Council in the past five years – and the Leicestershire Press can exclusively reveal where motorists are most likely to be hit with a ticket.
We submitted a Freedom of Information request that pinpointed the hotspots for parking fines in the city. It also revealed a sharp drop in the number of successful appeals against fines.
The top 10 streets in terms of numbers of tickets issued during 2025 were:
- London Road (5,041 fines)
- Western Road (2,612)
- Bowling Green Street (1,849)
- Wellington Street (1,742)
- Granby Street (1,618)
- Lee Street (1,610)
- Saxby Street (1,498)
- Bishop Street (1,197)
- Chatham Street (1,144)
- York Street (1,113)
We have plotted the streets with 500 fines or more on the interactive map below. The full street-by-street list showing the locations of all fines in Leicester – and those roads where there were none – is here.
Illegally parked vehicles in Leicester face fines of £70 for serious offences and £50 for minor ones. A fine is halved if paid within 14 days.
More than £16 million was collected by Leicester City Council in penalty charge notices (PCNs) in the last five years. That figure includes fines paid at the original full penalty and at the discounted rate.
The total value of fines issued in that period was more than £32 million. Income from fines funds the parking enforcement service, with any surplus going towards highway maintenance and transport improvement projects, including car parks and on-street parking.
| Year | Income from fines | Number of fines issued |
| 2025 | £5,603,015.85 | 130,702 |
| 2024 | £3,676,651.00 | 121,216 |
| 2023 | £3,102,410.00 | 102,535 |
| 2022 | £2,112,231.00 | 78,910 |
| 2021 | £1,1814,255.00 | 61,275 |
Note: during 2021 Leicester was still facing lockdown procedures and this may have had an impact on figures.
Leicester’s Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, said: “I receive many more calls from people asking for more parking enforcement to be carried out, than those complaining about parking fines. Parking enforcement helps to ensure that all drivers park in places that are safe and take into consideration other road users.
“Inconsiderate, careless and illegal parking can cause congestion, block the path of emergency services and create dangerous situations on our roads. It’s important the council uses its enforcement powers to help prevent and tackle these kinds of issues.”
But there is concern about parking provision from some businesses in the city centre. Tawhid Tai, the owner of restaurant Chickaros, in Granby Street, said: “We have tried multiple times to speak to the council and negotiate on terms, because I feel like if customers do have parking, you could probably see a good 20 per cent increase in sales.”
One possible explanation for high levels of illegal parking in the city centre is the cost of paying to park in authorised city spaces.
To come to the city centre with a car you need to have a good budget because parking just gets too expensive.
Iveta Horathova, a barista from Bru Café in Granby Street, said: “To come to the city centre with a car you need to have a good budget because parking just gets too expensive.”
Read more: Parking fines in Leicester – the complete street-by-street list
Cutting parking fees is not a viable option, according to Leicester Green Party’s Mags Lewis, who said: “Just lowering car park prices will increase congestion, make roads more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians and won’t help us in the longer term.”
As a Green Party spokesperson for disability, she believes illegal parking in the city centre does not help local businesses and displaces those who really need to use their cars there, such as the disabled.
Some motorists challenge their fines through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal process but fewer are winning. In 2021, 25 appeals were lodged and 12 were accepted. In 2025, out of 47 appeals submitted, only one was successful.
| Year | Number of appeals | Successful appeals |
| 2025 | 47 | 1 |
| 2024 | 51 | 4 |
| 2023 | 29 | 7 |
| 2022 | 24 | 8 |
| 2021 | 25 | 12 |
The council insist that clear parking rules are already in place and that motorists should take responsibility for where they leave their vehicles.
A Leicester City Council spokesman said: “The need for more parking enforcement is often raised with the council, and we continually monitor this and strive to achieve the right balance. We advise all drivers is to make sure they read and understand any parking restrictions before they leave their vehicle.
“Leicester has plenty of well-signposted affordable parking spaces, both on and off street. If you do park where you shouldn’t, you can expect to get a fine.
Now read: DMU students speak out on parking issues