A road in one of the Lake District’s most popular towns saw traffic wardens hand out over 1,100 tickets in 10 months.
A Freedom of Information request to Westmorland & Furness Council showed that the authority handed out 26,341 penalty charge notices between January and October – with 1,165 issued on Glebe Road in Bowness on Windermere.
Between January and the end of the October the council collected £694,225 from parking tickets.
Christine Hallatsch, of Bowness Town Council and mayor of Windermere, said: “Parking is a major concern for our local residents.
“The issue of illegal and inconsiderate parking has a real impact on their ability to go about their daily lives and for the emergency services to respond to incidents.
“The problem, fundamentally, is a lack of legal parking spaces in our town. Tourists drive for hours to get here on a sunny bank holiday and when they find all the carparks full they resort to parking illegally out of sheer frustration.
“The issuing of tickets does not prevent this from happening again as the next sunny weekend it is a whole different group of tourists who arrive.
“What is urgently needed is a strong vision and leadership by the authorities responsible for tourism and highways such as the Lake District National Park Authority and Westmorland and Furness Council to invest in park and ride facilities, and other ways to limit the number of cars coming to the area to the number of available parking spaces.”
Top 10 parking fine hotspots in Westmorland and Furness Council area
- Glebe Road, Bowness 1,165
- Great Dockray, Penrith 791
- Highgate, Kendal, 453
- Ferry Road, Barrow Island 441
- Stricklandgate, Kendal 432
- Ramsden Dock Road, Barrow Island 396
- Compston Road, Ambleside 390
- Sandgate, Penrith 349
- Stanley Road, Barrow Island 348
- Friargate, Penrith 318
Cabinet member for highways and ICT for Westmorland and Furness Council councillor Peter Thornton said parking enforcement was a critical part of ensuring streets remain safe and accessible for all.
He said: “Effective enforcement helps maintain the flow of traffic, protects access routes, and supports the smooth operation of our communities.
“The council is actively exploring and supporting long-term solutions to address these challenges. This includes working closely with partners such as the Lake District National Park Authority to develop sustainable transport options that will reduce the reliance on cars.
“We recognise the need for a balanced approach, ensuring adequate legal parking provision while promoting alternatives that support sustainable travel and protect the unique environment of our area and remain committed to working collaboratively with local communities, businesses, and stakeholders to achieve this vision.
“For our visitors and residents, we encourage planning journeys in advance, utilising public transport where possible, and being mindful of parking regulations to ensure a positive experience for everyone.”
Robert Allison, team leader of strategy, partnerships and policy for the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “We recognise the high demand for parking in the Lake District, which is exacerbated during peak visiting seasons in popular locations.
“We want fewer visitors arriving to and moving around the Lake District by private vehicle and to encourage people to park their vehicle for the day and use sustainable travel opportunities if they arrive in a private vehicle, thereby reducing visitor movement pressures and pollution, benefitting the environment and supporting vibrant communities.
“The LDNPA is committed to encouraging sustainable travel and transport including through the Windermere Gateway project by improving the station and its role as a transport interchange.
“Travel within the region remains a key part of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s work and our travel vision is that by 2040 the minimum percentage of visitors arriving by car decreases from the 2015 figure of 83% to 64%.
“The partnership’s annual report highlights community projects that encourage visitors to travel sustainably and research that demonstrates a clear demand for people to travel without their car on holiday.”
