But its parking budget has still ended up £120,000 in the red.

A total of 18,500 parking fines were handed out to the district's motorists last year – bumping up council coffers by over half a million pounds.

Another £2,320,000 was generated from parking charges, according to figures acquired by the Courier under the Freedom of Inform-ation Act.

But it is not enough to balance the parking services budget, which now needs a £120,000 top up. This shortfall will be made up from council tax.

The police handed over responsibility for enforcing on-street parking restrictions to Calderdale Council in November 2006.

Under the new regime, 18,479 parking contravention notices were issued and 1,914 were waived on appeal during the first full year.

Fines of £60 were imposed and reduced to £30 if they were paid within 14 days.

The council said it is unable to calculate how much was raised from fines up to November 2007 because a significant number are still outstanding. It also said it was not possible to compare the figures with previous years as parking restrictions have changed significantly.

The number of car park-related fines imposed by the council more than doubled in 2006/07. It has always been responsible for off-street parking.

Total income from parking charges, including higher fees and extra on-street spaces, went up by £350,000.

Councillor Barry Collins (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden), chairman of the council's regeneration and development scrutiny panel, said the details would be taken into account in a 16-month review of parking.

According to the 2001 census, two-thirds of Calderdale households – about 55,000 families – have access to a car although many of those paying parking charges and fines live outside Calderdale.

Fines for the most serious parking offences in Calderdale will go up from £60 to £70 at the end of March but fines for motorists whose parking tickets have expired, for example, will be reduced from £60 to £50.

Courier Comment