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STV News
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- STV News
Number of parking fines issued on Skye doubles in five years
The number of parking fines issued on the Isle of Skye have more than doubled over the last five years, figures show. Highland Council added that a 'significant proportion' of fines handed out were likely to have been issued to tourists. Figures released by the local authority show the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued on Skye totalled 7,011 in 2024 – more than double the 2,784 issued in 2020. Last year, the local authority issued fines worth £1.3m across the entire region, with 67% of those issued paid to date. A separate parking income report from Isle of Skye and Raasay committee on June 30 said fines worth £428,750 were issued in the area between April 2024 and March 2025. It added that the average cash recovery from PCNs was around 70%, while arrangements made through debt collection could mean payments are made several years after the initial fine was issued. Figures show the highest amount of fines were handed out at Bayfield (West) car park in Portree, with 1,346 issued between April 2024 and March 2025. The was followed by Somerled Square car park, also in Portree, and Storr car park. Hundreds of fines were also issued at popular beauty spots like the Fairy Pools and The Quairing. The council said the increase in PCNs issued followed a rise in the number of parking enforcement officers cracking down on rule breakers as well as more parking and no waiting restrictions. Highland Council began recording the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) in 2016, when just 2,300 fines were issued. The figure rose to 9,909 in 2020 and more than doubled to 19,665 in 2024. A Highland Council spokesperson said: 'There are a number of factors that have contributed to the increase of PCNs issued on Skye over the last five years which include an increase in the regulated parking areas, an increase in parking restrictions and no waiting restrictions in key locations to prevent routes being obstructed and an increase in the number of Parking Enforcement Officers. 'A number of areas that generate high PCN numbers are around key visitor locations, and it is likely that a significant proportion of the PCNs issued on Skye are to visitors at these locations. 'Parking rule breaking is a concern and the seriousness of this can depend on the area and frequency. In many areas, it can cause safety issues, block traffic, and create challenging situations for pedestrians and drivers. The public can report parking issues at Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Visitors 'significant' factor in rising Skye parking fines
Traffic wardens brought in to tackle problem parking at Skye's tourist hot-spots issued fines worth more than £400,000 last year, according to Highland to the island made up a "significant proportion" of those people served with the £50 penalty charge notices (PCNs), the local authority confirmed.A total of 7,011 parking penalties were issued in 2024 - more than double the 2,784 served to motorists in 2020, according to another set of council parking has been a long-standing problem on Skye, with cars and other vehicles often abandoned at the roadside or parked illegally in passing places near attractions such as the Fairly Pools and the Quiraing. Public money has been invested in car parks, but rule-breaking has left Highland Council chasing up on thousands of were 2,797 penalties issued in 2021, 3,545 in 2022 and 5,563 in 2023. Already this year more than 2,670 have been issued up to May. Fines totalling £430,000 were issued in the most recent financial year - April 2024 to March this year - according to figures reported the council's Skye and Raasay hotspots had some of the highest a car park at The Storr 948 PCNs totalling £56,350 were issued, while 184 notices with a total value of £10,250 for roadside parking were given out at the Fairy Council told BBC Scotland News several factors were behind the rise over the last five included there being more regulated parking areas and no waiting restrictions, as well as an increase in enforcement a spokesperson added: "A number of areas that generate high PCN numbers are around key visitor locations, and it is likely that a significant proportion of the PCNs issued on Skye are visitors at these locations."Parking rule-breaking is a concern and the seriousness of this can depend on the area and frequency. "In many areas, it can cause safety issues, block traffic, and create challenging situations for pedestrians and drivers."The council said the public could report parking issues on its website. How much are the fines? PCNs can be issued for a number of reasons, such as an unpaid parking charge or parking in a disabled space without having a valid Blue cost £50 but can rise to £150, plus a sheriff officer's charge, if not paid after 70 have the right to challenge a PCN.A report to the local authority's Isle of Skye and Raasay committee said on average 70% of parking debts were some cases it could be years before a fine is latest figures show the worst offending last year was at Portree's Bayfield (West) car park where there were 1,346 PCNs issued totalling £81, at the site range from £2 for three hours and £4 for up to 12 hours. A separate set of Highland Council figures, show the local authority issued about £1.3m-worth of PCNs for the whole Highland region last was the highest figure since the council started recording the data in far, £877,556 of those fines have been collected and £221,552 cancelled or written PCNs were issued in Inverness, followed by Skye and then Tourism Alliance chief executive, Marc Crothall, said tourists made a "significant contribution" to island said total tourism spend in Scotland last year was £10.5bn and this helped to support local shops, pubs, restaurants, and 245,000 jobs across the Crothall said: "Many of those who visit and stay in rural destinations also donate to good causes too."He added: "Sustainable and responsible tourism is one of the pillars of the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030."We would encourage all visitors to be considerate when visiting our destinations, avoiding causing unnecessary pressure on our roads and the areas around our beauty spots and to be considerate of those who live in the local communities."
