Annual Parking Report 2023/24
Bus CEOs
In 2023 as part of our work with the Bus Service Improvement Plan, a new post of a bus Service Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) started. Every day a bus CEO now travels on buses in Lewes and Rother Districts, Eastbourne and Hastings Boroughs.
NSL, Brighton and Hove buses, Compass, and Stagecoach, worked together to identify routes affected by vehicles parked in contravention. The bus CEO then travelled on the bus to see what the problems were and how best to help resolve them, either asking the driver to move on or to issue a PCN.
It soon became clear that there were other factors which were impeding the buses. Where possible the CEO would report these issues to the relevant departments. Examples include overgrown hedges and the need for new restrictions in some places. In some areas we have also changed how we enforce the on street restrictions.
In Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes and Rother Districts, the feedback has been very positive. Both passengers and drivers have expressed their satisfaction. Some have commented on the buses being on time with a bus driver saying they “feel they have a magician on board”.
During the year bus CEOs have spent 1,444 hours on bus routes, issuing 246 PCNs and have moved 173 vehicles on.
Pay and display machines
There has been a decline in use of our pay and display machines making some of them no longer economic to run. To address this, we carried out a project to identify machines with low levels of use. We reviewed the income by payment method and transaction number at each machine. Over 12 months we were able to see which machines had the lowest levels of use. We found only around 40% of transactions were being made at a machine, with cash payments making up around only 25%.
We knew that removing machines would affect some users but needed to balance this against the financial burden of maintaining the existing number of machines. We did an equality impact assessment before considering any changes, as part of this we wanted to:
- limit any adverse impact on users
- ensure the full range of payment methods would still be available
- make sure every parking space still had a pay and display machine within a reasonable distance
After identifying which machines had the lowest transaction numbers, we visited all the machines. This was to assess if it was suitable for removal, or if another machine would be more appropriate. This involved several checks including:
- the distance and route to walk to another machine
- the time taken to walk to and from the alternative machine
- the mobile phone signal
- identifying any changes needed to the signs
We identified 153 out of our 340 pay and display machines for removal, all with another machine nearby that motorists could still use to make cash or card payments. Below is a summary of the machines by CPE area.
Area | Number of machines | Being removed | Remaining |
---|---|---|---|
Eastbourne | 141 | 71 | 70 |
Hastings | 65 | 34 | 31 |
Lewes | 82 | 29 | 53 |
Rother | 52 | 19 | 33 |
Visiting the machines for this project had another benefit. It meant we were able to note areas where the parking restrictions are not achieving the aim of making efficient use of the kerb space. Thus, some of the machines identified through the project will not be removed as part of this. The locations will be considered in the next parking review to see if the restrictions need any changes.
The machines identified for removal were covered in February 2024. After three months we will consider any feedback about them. In June 2024, any adjustments will be made before permanently removing the machines.
Finances
All areas
Income
Income for all areas | 2023/24 £ | 2022/23 £ |
---|---|---|
On street charge | 3,724,533 | 3,764,629 |
Off street charge | 79,999 | 68,681 |
Permit income | 982,274 | 963,848 |
Penalty Charge Notices | 1,559,441 | 1,599,323 |
Bus lane Penalty Charge Notices | 145,622 | 114,739 |
Payments from other Local Authorities | 266,892 | 290,567 |
Other income | 7,039 | 5,452 |
Total | 6,765,800 | 6,807,239 |
Expenditure
Expenditure for all areas | 2023/24 £ | 2022/23 £ |
---|---|---|
Enforcement contract | 2,639,638 | 2,343,492 |
Operational surplus
Operational surplus for all areas | 2023/24 £ | 2022/23 £ |
---|---|---|
Operational Surplus | 348,458 | 588,034 |
Schemes funded by the surplus
All schemes funded by the surplus | 2023/24 £ | 2022/23 £ |
---|---|---|
Parking Review | 353,170 | 191,042 |
Approved by parking board | 25,600 | 25,600 |
County Hall | 0 | 13,183 |
Real Time Bus Information | 170,991 | 156,084 |
Total Payment and investments | 549,761 | 385,909 |
Net surplus or (deficit)
Net surplus or deficit for all areas | 2023/24 £ | 2022/23 £ |
---|---|---|
Net surplus or (deficit) | (201,303) | 202,125 |
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
47,850 PCNs were issued to vehicles for parking contraventions over the last year and 3,835 were issued to vehicles for driving in a bus lane.
PCNs issued by month for parking contraventions
Month |
Eastbourne |
Hastings | Lewes On Street | County Hall | Lewes District car parks | Rother |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April | 1,272 | 1,343 | 515 | 30 | 158 | 606 |
May | 1,357 | 1,173 | 535 | 38 | 173 | 658 |
June | 1,419 | 976 | 466 | 74 | 149 | 611 |
July | 1,454 | 1,141 | 511 | 54 | 179 | 654 |
August | 1,727 | 1,277 | 409 | 51 | 122 | 749 |
September | 1,143 | 1,302 | 464 | 52 | 168 | 865 |
October | 1,403 | 1,337 | 548 | 37 | 173 | 669 |
November | 1,513 | 1,144 | 414 | 75 | 133 | 606 |
December | 1,244 | 1,073 | 580 | 44 | 89 | 656 |
January | 1,299 | 1,238 | 572 | 57 | 132 | 800 |
February | 1,412 | 1,303 | 368 | 53 | 98 | 713 |
March | 1,425 | 1,241 | 558 | 68 | 59 | 841 |
Total | 16,668 | 14,548 | 5,940 | 633 | 1,633 | 8,428 |
PCNs issued by month for bus lane contraventions
Bus lane PCNs by month |
2023/24 Total |
2023/24 Gildredge Road |
2023/24 Terminus Road |
---|---|---|---|
Apr-23 | 404 | 293 | 111 |
May-23 | 358 | 247 | 111 |
Jun-23 | 307 | 189 | 118 |
Jul-23 | 358 | 269 | 89 |
Aug-23 | 259 | 137 | 122 |
Sep-23 | 202 | 104 | 98 |
Oct-23 | 378 | 287 | 91 |
Nov-23 | 328 | 246 | 82 |
Dec-23 | 364 | 292 | 72 |
Jan-24 | 308 | 245 | 63 |
Feb-24 | 295 | 253 | 42 |
Mar-24 | 274 | 216 | 58 |
Total | 3,835 | 2,778 | 1,057 |
PCNs issued by contravention code
Contravention | Code | Eastbourne | Hastings | Lewes | Rother | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours | 1 | 3,344 | 4,891 | 2,375 | 1,812 | 12,422 |
Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force | 2 | 1,397 | 812 | 228 | 103 | 2,540 |
Parked after the expiry of paid-for time | 5 | 826 | 450 | 117 | 300 | 1,693 |
No valid ticket | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Parked without payment of the parking charge | 11 | 619 | 1,963 | 215 | 1,878 | 4,675 |
Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or permit | 12 | 4,279 | 2,235 | 791 | 288 | 7,593 |
Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit | 16 | 1,426 | 3 | 670 | 1,723 | 3,822 |
Displaying an invalid permit | 19 | 819 | 69 | 262 | 10 | 1,160 |
Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space | 21 | 106 | 56 | 59 | 15 | 236 |
Re-parked in the same parking place within the no return period | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle | 23 | 590 | 430 | 17 | 252 | 1,289 |
Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space | 24 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 5 | 66 |
Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading | 25 | 719 | 665 | 275 | 285 | 1,944 |
Parked 50cm or more from the kerb | 26 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 70 |
Dropped footway (new contravention) | 27 | 258 | 124 | 28 | 108 | 518 |
Parked on a raised verge | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Parked longer than permitted | 30 | 791 | 811 | 421 | 901 | 2,924 |
Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge | 40 | 635 | 723 | 181 | 473 | 2,012 |
Parked in a Police space | 42 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Parked on a taxi rank | 45 | 221 | 98 | 83 | 22 | 424 |
Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand | 47 | 365 | 345 | 47 | 193 | 950 |
Parked on a clearway | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Parked on a school keep clear | 48 | 112 | 108 | 16 | 16 | 252 |
Commercial vehicle in overnight waiting ban | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Parked in contravention of commercial waiting | 56 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Parked on contravention of a bus ban | 57 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Parked on a footway / verge | 62 | 30 | 623 | 119 | 0 | 772 |
Parked without payment of the parking charge (car park) | 73 | 0 | 0 | 1,483 | 0 | 1,483 |
Overstayed paid-for time (car park) | 80 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
Parked in a restricted area (car park) | 81 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
Expired pay and display ticket (car park) | 82 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 0 | 184 |
No pay and display ticket (car park) | 83 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time (car park) | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
No permit (car park) | 85 | 0 | 0 | 327 | 0 | 327 |
Out-of-bay (car park) | 86 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 0 | 117 |
Parked in a disabled bay without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge (car park) | 87 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
Area not designated for class of vehicle (car park) | 91 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 56 |
Parked on a pedestrian crossing | 99 | 52 | 89 | 7 | 34 | 182 |
Total | 52 | 14,548 | 8,206 | 8,428 | 47,844 |
Bus lane PCNs issued by contravention code
Contravention | Code | Eastbourne 2023/24 |
---|---|---|
Being in a bus lane | 34 | 3,835 |
Parking PCNs paid
Summary of PCN outcomes | Eastbourne | Hastings | Lewes (On Street) | Lewes (Off Street) | Rother | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paid | 9,908 | 9,915 | 5,075 | 2,009 | 6,965 | 33,872 |
At Discounted Rate (£25) | 1,451 | 1,809 | 747 | 1,390 | 2,035 | 7,432 |
At Discounted Rate (£35) | 6,492 | 5,795 | 3,422 | 307 | 3,515 | 19,531 |
At Full Rate (£50) | 278 | 457 | 148 | 195 | 374 | 1,452 |
At Full Rate (£70) | 1,163 | 1,287 | 533 | 43 | 644 | 3,670 |
After Charge Certificate (£75) | 37 | 57 | 15 | 27 | 49 | 185 |
After Charge Certificate (£105) | 159 | 150 | 75 | 7 | 89 | 480 |
After debt registration (£84) | 65 | 69 | 18 | 33 | 109 | 294 |
After debt registration (£114) | 263 | 291 | 117 | 7 | 150 | 828 |
Bus lane PCNs paid
Bus lane PCNs paid | Gildredge Road | Terminus Road | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Paid | 2,370 | 760 | 3,130 |
At Discounted Rate (£25) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
At Discounted Rate (£35) | 2,065 | 686 | 2,751 |
At Full Rate (£50) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
At Full Rate (£70) | 111 | 31 | 142 |
After Charge Certificate (£75) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
After Charge Certificate (£105) | 98 | 27 | 125 |
After Registration (£84) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
After Registration (£114) | 96 | 16 | 112 |
Parking PCNs challenged and appealed
Out of the 47,850 PCNs issued for parking contraventions we received 11,264 challenges and appeals against them.
- 33,872 were paid
- 2,507 were cancelled
- 291 were written off
- 11,180 are still open
- 33 were appealed to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT)
Outcome of appeals to TPT
Appealed to Independent Adjudicator (TPT) | 8 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 33 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dismissed (PCN upheld) | 6 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 28 |
Not contested (PCN cancelled) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Allowed (PCN cancelled) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
PCNs cancelled by reason
PCNs cancelled by reason | Eastbourne | Hastings | Lewes on street | Lewes off street | Rother | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adjudicators decision | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Blue badge holder | 112 | 72 | 43 | 2 | 79 | 308 |
Cashless or Virtual parking - error accepted | 219 | 58 | 63 | 37 | 73 | 450 |
CEO error | 96 | 99 | 64 | 29 | 55 | 343 |
Mitigating reasons | 200 | 164 | 107 | 67 | 123 | 661 |
Emergency; gas, water or electric | 15 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 47 |
Loading or unloading | 28 | 37 | 23 | 0 | 19 | 107 |
Medical emergency | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
Meter fault | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
Missing, obscured lines or signs | 7 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 26 |
Multiple PCNs, one contravention | 24 | 48 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 92 |
Police vehicle | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
Processing or system error ESCC | 7 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
Processing or system error NSL | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 42 |
Unforeseen delay | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Valid pay and display ticket supplied | 92 | 23 | 11 | 32 | 29 | 187 |
Valid permit held | 33 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 70 |
Vehicle breakdown | 29 | 40 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 105 |
Total | 888 | 607 | 379 | 204 | 429 | 2507 |
Bus lane PCNs challenged and appealed
Out of the 3,835 PCNs issued for entering a bus lane, we received 733 challenges and appeals against them.
- 3,130 were paid
- 138 were cancelled
- 0 were written off
- 567 are still open
- 13 were appealed to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT)
Results of appeals to TPT
Bus lane challenge and appeal outcomes | Gildredge Road | Terminus Road | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Appealed to Independent Adjudicator (TPT) | 8 | 5 | 13 |
Dismissed (PCN upheld) | 7 | 4 | 11 |
Not contested (PCN cancelled) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Allowed (PCN cancelled) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
PCNs cancelled by reason
Bus lane PCNs cancelled by reason | Total |
---|---|
Adjudicators decision | 1 |
Appeal not contested | 0 |
Blue badge holder | 0 |
Cashless or Virtual parking - error accepted | 3 |
CEO error | 0 |
Mitigating reasons | 102 |
Emergency; gas, water or electric | 2 |
Loading or unloading | 4 |
Medical emergency | 0 |
Meter fault | 0 |
Missing, obscured lines or signs | 1 |
Multiple PCNs, one contravention | 0 |
Police vehicle | 1 |
Processing or system error ESCC | 23 |
Processing or system error NSL | 0 |
Unforeseen delay | 0 |
Valid pay and display ticket supplied | 0 |
Valid permit held | 0 |
Vehicle breakdown | 1 |
Total | 138 |
Permits
All our permit schemes have permits for residents, businesses, traders and carers. There are other types of permit available but these differ in each area. You can read more about the different types of permits available on our website.
The following tables show the numbers and types of permits issued.
Resident permits
Eastbourne permits
Until this year there were eight permit zones in Eastbourne, this has now reduced to seven. In the last review one of the smallest zones, zone J, was removed. Only two permits were sold for the zone J in 2022-23 and the after consultation with the residents it was evident there was no longer a need for the permit restrictions.
In total 2,755 resident permits were issued across all of the zones. The breakdown of permits issued by zone can be seen in the chart below.
Hastings permits
In total 3,245 resident permits were issued across all of the zones. The breakdown of permits issued by zone can be seen in the chart below.
Lewes permits
In total 2,206 resident permits were issued across all of the zones. The breakdown of permits issued by zone can be seen in the chart below.
Rother permits
In total 3,296 resident permits were issued across all of the zones. The breakdown of permits issued by zone can be seen in the chart below.
All other types of permits and dispensations
Permit type | Permits issued |
---|---|
Resident Visitor | 45,480 |
Trade | 9,060 |
Hotel | 69,420 |
Healthcare workers and carers | 15,490 |
Business | 240 |
Doctor | 14 |
Volunteer | 62 |
Permit type | Permits issued |
---|---|
Resident Visitor | 17,168 |
Business user scratch cards | 1,538 |
Business | 8 |
Doctor | 1 |
Primary Care Worker | 190 |
Permit type | Permits issued |
---|---|
Resident Visitor | 34,300 |
Trade | 2,793 |
Hotel | 150 |
Healthcare workers and carers | 4,555 |
County Hall West (CH) | 160 |
County Hall East (CP) | 281 |
Business | 13 |
Permit type | Permits issued |
---|---|
Resident Visitor | 47,290 |
Trade | 2,533 |
Hotel | 2,250 |
Healthcare workers and carers | 9,230 |
Business | 53 |
Doctor | 1 |
CPE area dispensation covers | Dispensations issued |
---|---|
All CPE areas | 100 |
Eastbourne | 18 |
Hastings | 19 |
Lewes on street | 14 |
Lewes off street | 43 |
Rother | 17 |
Eastbourne and Hastings | 2 |
Eastbourne and Lewes | 50 |
Hastings and Rother | 5 |
All CPE areas emergency care worker permit | 216 |
More information and links
- You can find out more about our parking schemes and find contact details for the parking team on our website.
- Challenge or pay a PCN online https://esccocm.itsvc.co.uk/
- Ask for new parking restrictions or changes to existing ones by completing our request form
- Apply for a permit by logging into your account, or create an account Log in (nsl-apply.co.uk)
- If you have any questions about this report please email parkingadminsupport@eastsussex.gov.uk