Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities tackle excessive car parking charges to help promote tourism in seaside towns.

The Great British Coast has enormous potential and this Government is determined to see it thrive all year round. We are committed to supporting coastal communities to unlock barriers to their development and growth, and to strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area. Central government has no remit to intervene in local authorities’ day to day affairs. The Government recognises that councils should be treating motorists fairly and promoting their town centres through their parking plans.

In line with the Local Authority Transparency Code, local authorities should each year publish their costs and profits relating to their parking management, allowing the public to hold certain overzealous councils to account.