By Milo Pope
Published: 16:57 AEDT, 14 October 2024 | Updated: 17:03 AEDT, 14 October 2024
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Shop owners and residents on Britain's most ticketed street have described the 'horrendous' amount of fines that are 'killing the city' and 'destroying' small businesses.
Earlier this year it was revealed that Gloucester Road in Bristol dealt out a whopping 3,375 fines in the last year, equating to roughly £120,000.
Bristol Council raked in the colossal sum for illegal parking and bus lane contraventions, with one person even getting fined £500 in one month.
It comes after research in March showed that drivers are being handed an average of more than 35,000 parking tickets by private companies - with one firm paying almost £1.5million for personal data from the DVLA.
Now, speaking to MailOnline, Bristol residents have shed light on the region's 'hideous' public transport and explained how businesses are being forced to shut an hour early as a result of the gridlocked roads.
Gloucester Road (pictured), located in Bristol, has been deemed Britain's most ticketed street
The road has seen drivers get hit with more than £120,000 in parking fines in a year
Bristol Council raked in the colossal sum on the road for illegal parking and bus lane contraventions
Elsewhere across the country, second in the number of fines given out last year was The Horsefair in Bristol, then Berkeley Square and Whiteladies Road, both Clifton.
Leeds City Council earned £85,165 in penalty charge notices in the same year on Great George Street, The Sun report.
Leicester City Council also received £53,550 in fines from drivers, with Granby Street the most prolific.
In Bristol, however, Taurri, 27, who runs a small CBD business on Gloucester Road, says he has received £500 in parking fines in the past month alone.
'This street and its signs are very confusing,' he said. 'It is clearly damaging the high street but the council do not seem to care.
'I mean sometimes one of us might have to try and get the bus but it is always late! They are unreliable.'
Mary, a jewellery shop owner on Gloucester road, was very passionate about the city's wider infrastructure, or lack thereof, as she parks two roads away and walks to her shop.
'I am not surprised that this road is the most ticketed in the UK,' she said. 'It is horrendous.
'There are a lot of different factors too - the ULEZ zone the council has implemented which has not done anything, stupid drivers who try and U-turn on this road, and I'm pretty sure the majority of people do not understand the signage. The signs are so bad.
'It is from 4.30 till 5.30 mainly which is the worst time - I see ticket issued, after ticket, after ticket. They are just trying to get as much money as possible.
'There is never anywhere to park. The road only just about operates. Mark my words this will kill the high street.
'But then the whole infrastructure is bad - and it has been this way for the last 20 years - it needs to be sorted.'
A CBD business owner says he has received £500 in parking fines in the past month alone
Mary, a jewellery shop owner on Gloucester road, slammed the city's lack of wider infrastructure
Frank Sewell, the owner of The Flooring Guide carpet shop, declared: 'The road needs loading bays!'
Melanie, 52, the owner of Scrumptiously Sweet on Gloucester Road, said the news about Gloucester Road being Britain's most ticketed street is 'unsurprising'.
She explained: 'It's a really important issue. We as business owners put signs up telling people where they can and can't park, as the main signs are confusing.
'All it takes is one person to park in the bus lane! We lose so much custom because of the bus lane requirements, it's 4.30pm till 6.30pm where people cannot park - and that is prime time for businesses!
'It's really hard. I get why they do it but it is not helping small businesses and is spoiling the city.
'I also wonder where is that money going? Something needs to be done about this. It's always about the money, and not helping the people.'
'There is all of this restrictive parking - way too much of it, and people are not happy about it. That is all I have to say.'
Frank Sewell, the owner of The Flooring Guide carpet shop, added: 'The road needs loading bays!
'We have deliveries for four metre wide carpets and it is a nightmare. The delivery driver has to stop in the road, it causes havoc, we get shouted at and that's it.
'I'm not sure the parking meters could change as it is important we have parking. They need to help us small businesses out!'
Mr Sewell believes the push for cycling and bikes in the city has 'gone too far'.
He explained: 'The bike conversation has gone too far. There are bike stands everywhere: bike stands by the library, bike stands by the shop, bike stands by pub. It is bikes gone mad.'
Diago Godoey, 30, the shop owner of ARTIGO, claimed: 'I often see people getting tickets.
'I have seen people's cars get towed away before if they are parking in the wrong place!
'I try and warn people, but a big problem is that people don't see the signs. I park on the back streets and walk to the shop.'
In terms of the fines given out by private companies last year, motoring charity RAC Foundation found how many drivers could feel 'badly let down' by the delay in ministers introducing a code of conduct aimed at eradicating some of the sector's worst practices despite legislation being passed.
MailOnline has contacted Bristol City for comment.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
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