Somerset Council has collected more than £1.2 million from residential parking permits since 2020 – with income rising by 136 per cent over five years.

Figures released via a Freedom of Information request by used car platform cinch show that the council has issued more than 68,000 permits since 2020, with the highest revenue recorded last year.

In 2024 alone, Somerset brought in £424,670 from permits – a jump of 58 per cent on the previous year, and more than double what it collected in 2020.

The year-by-year breakdown shows:

• 2020: £179,480
• 2021: £163,395
• 2022: £182,755
• 2023: £268,055
• 2024: £424,670

Somerset's revenue increase reflects a broader national trend, with councils across the UK pushing up permit prices or expanding permit zones to manage parking demand and cover transport costs.

By comparison, Bath and North East Somerset Council – which operates more densely packed urban zones – has collected more than £4 million in the same period. Dorset brought in less than Somerset at just under £900,000, while Devon and Gloucestershire are thought to sit somewhere in between.

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said: "Parking permits can be great for making sure residents have somewhere to park near their homes, but there should be a balance between affordability and accessibility. Our research shows that parking permits are getting more expensive across the UK, putting extra financial strain on residents already dealing with rising living costs."

In Somerset, a first permit currently costs £60 a year. A second car at the same address will cost £100 – a 67 per cent increase. Multi-car households are often the hardest hit, with some councils charging up to four times more for a third permit.

Across the UK, councils brought in a combined total of £359.9 million in residents' permit charges since 2020. London boroughs dominate the highest earners, with Wandsworth Council collecting more than £38 million. But even smaller authorities have posted sharp increases: Hampshire nearly quintupled its permit income over the same period, while some councils raised charges by over 500 per cent.

Somerset's 136 per cent rise puts it squarely in the national mid-table – higher than many rural counties, but not as steep as urban hotspots or councils that introduced new charges from scratch.

So where is the money going?

By law, income from on-street permits must be ring-fenced for transport-related spending. This can include running the permit scheme itself, employing enforcement officers, maintaining signage and road markings, and in some cases subsidising local bus services or investing in highways.

Somerset Council hasn't publicly broken down how it uses its permit income, but the figures suggest the bulk is likely spent on day-to-day parking enforcement and related transport maintenance.

That hasn't stopped questions being raised over value for money. Residents in parts of Somerset have complained about a lack of guaranteed spaces despite paying for permits, while others are concerned that higher charges are creeping in without clear improvements on the ground.

Sam Sheehan added: "Permits are increasingly becoming a cost to factor in alongside fuel, insurance and maintenance – especially for families who rely on more than one car. Councils need to ensure the systems are fair, transparent, and actually deliver the benefits residents are paying for."