London 2012: £200 parking fines for Olympics agreed

Simon Bull, London24 Sunday, February 5, 2012
1:13 PM

Parking and traffic penalty charges are set to rise to £200 in parts of London during this summer’s Olympic Games.

The recommendation for the increase from the current maximum penalty of £130 has been made by the transport and environment committee of London Councils, the organisation which represents all the capital’s local authorities and has responsibility for determining charges that apply on borough roads.

The proposed rise, subject to approval by the Mayor of London and consideration by the transport secretary, covers the six weeks of the Games and means all parking and moving traffic contraventions will incur a penalty of £200.

The decision covers the Olympic Park and River Zones (the Park itself, Excel, North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park and Royal Artillery Barracks).

The fee for having a vehicle released after it’s towed away will be £300.

The increased penalty charges are designed to deter people from travelling by car to the Games.

All Games ticket holders will be given free travel on public transport in London as part of their ticket but it is anticipated that some people will still drive to the venues with the hope of finding a nearby parking space.

Councillor Catherine West, chairwoman of London Councils’ transport and environment committee, said: “We don’t want people to come to the Games by car.

“Demand for parking in London, especially around the venues, will be extremely high this summer and we want to protect residents and businesses in streets which are not used to major events.

“We are concerned that people may see existing penalties - which could be a little as £16.25 each in a car of four people - as a price worth paying rather than a deterrent.

“It is important to remember that penalties are completely avoidable if drivers park legally.“

The penalty charges decision does not affect basic parking charges around the boroughs.