St John Street PCNs: how 29 spaces generated £733,960 in fines, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• St John Street located in Manchester city centre boasts 29 parking spaces but has collected £733,960 in penalty charge notices (PCNs) within three years.
• This was following an amendment made in January 2024 whereby there was a single yellow line banning overnight parking from 8 pm to 8 am.
• Totalling 22,606 PCNs were imposed in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively, meaning that daily average is £670 in fines.
• ParkAppeal, which obtained data from a Freedom of Information Act request, reveals that the fines have significantly increased since the introduction of the rule amendment with £355,170 recorded in 2024/25 only.
• There are complaints from motorists and ParkAppeal about signage while Manchester City Council claims that there are six restriction signs plus three pay-and-display signs.
• St John Street now stands as the worst street in Manchester when it comes to parking penalties and the council collects approximately £7 million each year through parking fines.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 18, 2026 – A short city‑centre road with just 29 parking spaces has become the most penalised street in Manchester after generating £733,960 in parking fines over three years, according to data obtained by the Manchester Evening News. The figures, secured through a Freedom of Information request by parking appeals firm ParkAppeal, show 22,606 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were issued on St John Street between 2023/24 and 2025/26, averaging roughly £670 a day in revenue from fines.

What happened on St John Street?

St John Street, lined with Georgian townhouses and several law firms just off Deansgate, had long allowed free parking after 8pm for motorists using the pay‑and‑display bays. That changed in January 2024 when a new single yellow line was painted along the road, prohibiting parking between 8pm and 8am. Since then, drivers who left vehicles in the bays overnight have been liable for a £70 PCN, reducible to £35 if paid within the discount period.

As reported by John Scheerhout of the Manchester Evening News, the FOI data shows fines on the street jumped after the overnight ban took effect, with 6,795 PCNs issued in 2024/25 raising £355,170, followed by 5,501 PCNs worth £280,309 in 2025/26. In 2023/24, before the overnight restriction, 3,037 PCNs were issued, raising about £145,396, placing the street second behind Byrom Street that year.

Why are drivers calling it a ‘cash cow’?

Critics have described St John Street as a council “cash cow” because the volume of fines appears disproportionate to the number of available bays. ParkAppeal’s analysis indicates each of the 29 bays has generated an average of £8,436 per year in penalties, or about £23 a day per bay. Over the three‑year period, the street accounted for more than a tenth of a million pounds annually at its peak, despite being only a short block with limited spaces.

A spokesperson for ParkAppeal told the Manchester Evening News that the data illustrates how concentrated enforcement can arise on certain streets with specific restrictions. “For drivers, the essential point is not to rush into paying without reviewing the notice,” the spokesperson said, adding that unclear signs, incorrect location details, or mismatches between the alleged contravention and what occurred can be grounds for challenge.

What do motorists say about the signage?

Some drivers say the rules are confusing because the pay‑and‑display machines on St John Street do not explicitly state the overnight ban. Several motorists told the Manchester Evening News they only became aware of the restriction after receiving a £70 fine. Alex Roberts, one of several affected drivers, said he began contesting his ticket but ultimately paid because of the stress involved. “I didn’t have the energy to fight anymore,” he told John Scheerhout of the Manchester Evening News.

What is the council’s response?

Manchester City Council rejects the “cash cow” characterisation and insists signage is adequate. A council representative told the Manchester Evening News there are six signs notifying motorists of the overnight parking restrictions on St John Street, averaging about one sign for every five bays, alongside three pay‑and‑display signs indicating times and restrictions. The council added that the placement of signs is determined by qualified engineers experienced in road safety and traffic management, and that motorists can appeal PCNs if they believe a notice was issued in error.

In response to one driver’s appeal, the council stated:

“Please note that along St John Street, in addition to the pay and display, there are time plates detailing the restriction on St John Street… That did not mean the signage was non‑compliant.”

How does this fit wider parking enforcement in Manchester?

St John Street is now the worst location in Manchester for parking penalties, but the FOI data shows a broader rise in fines across the city’s top ten hotspot streets. All ten locations recorded at least 2,940 PCNs and a minimum of £144,000 in fines in 2024/25, up from only two streets exceeding £100,000 the previous year. Across the borough, Manchester City Council collects around £7m a year from parking fines, according to figures cited by drivers and campaigners.

Background: how the overnight restriction developed

The overnight restriction on St John Street was introduced in January 2024 as part of local traffic management measures, converting what had been free evening parking into a no‑parking window from 8pm to 8am. ParkAppeal submitted its FOI request anticipating that the change might trap unfamiliar drivers, and the resulting statistics confirmed a sharp increase in PCNs after the rule took effect. The council has maintained that the signage meets compliance standards and that the restrictions are clearly communicated via roadside plates and pay‑and‑display units.

Prediction: how could this affect drivers and city‑centre visitors?

If enforcement levels remain high and perceptions of confusing signage persist, drivers and visitors may become more cautious about using on‑street bays in Manchester city centre, potentially shifting towards multi‑storey car parks or park‑and‑ride options. For regular commuters and small businesses that rely on short‑stay parking, the risk of unexpected overnight fines could increase operating costs and deter evening visits. Conversely, if the council reviews sign placement or machine messaging to improve clarity, the number of inadvertent violations could fall, reducing both revenue from PCNs and driver frustration.