A Brighton car park is the most lucrative in the country.
Each of The Lanes car park’s 350 spaces earned Brighton and Hove City Council £4,692 in 2012, more than any other local authority site.
It raised a total of £1.6 million, the fifth highest haul of any car park.
The revelation comes from Freedom of Information requests to 100 major councils about top earning car parks for 2012.
Motorists are charged £5 for two hours parking in The Lanes car park in Black Lion Street, £12 for nine hours and £23 for a day.
Councillor Ian Davey, chairman of the council’s transport committee, defended the charges saying they offered good value for money.
At Snow Hill car park in Birmingham – the UK’s biggest earner – it costs £2.30 for two hours or £10.80 for a day.
At the Marlands car park in Southampton, the ninth biggest earner, two hours parking costs £2, or £5 for more than seven hours.
Destroying trade
Caius Sheppard, owner of Turning Heads Jewellers, in Meeting house Lane, said car parking charges were driving customers away to other towns.
He said: “It’s ridiculous and nothing but a cash cow.
“There wouldn’t be a problem if they were reinvesting the money into creating more car parks or by reducing the rates, but no, they keep going up.
“They’re destroying the town for traders like me as people just go to Worthing or Eastbourne now where they know they can park for a reasonable price.
“Most people don’t want to shop in Brighton anymore. The remaining few that do are prepared to be fleeced.”
'Ruining economy'
Steve Percy, of the People’s Parking Protest, said the news wasn’t a surprise.
He added: “The council seems to be set on ruining the economy with their stance on parking.”
Coun Davey said The Lanes was a high quality car park in one of the most desirable locations in the country.
He added: “We’ve carried out a great deal of improvement work in the last few years, which has made it even more popular.
“We offer cut price rates of £1 for 1 hour during the week, £4.50 for evenings and an overnight rate of £10 to help meet the needs of visitors, residents and local businesses.
“All money earned is reinvested in transport projects across the city – most significantly repaying the cost of the improvement works we’ve carried out and the £10 million a year cost of free bus travel for older people.”
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