The embattled firm behind a controversial Perth car park massively boosted its income with penalty charges issued across the UK in the past year.
Smart Parking has come under fire from dozens of disgruntled motorists who feel they have been unfairly penalised while parking at the Kinnoull Street multi-storey car park in the city centre.
Its annual report reveals that, as a whole, the parking division of the Australia-based firm made a profit of £373,000, up from a loss of £326,000 in the last year.
The report states: “The UK parking management business has experienced improved returns in the second half of the year. This has been achieved by a renewal of the management team, a focus on strengthening relationships with existing customers, improvinglevels of customer service, deployment of technology and strong cost control.
“Civil penalty income was up 54% as the division continued with its strategy of deploying technology solutions on manually operated car parking sites in the UK and through improved yield management.”
A spokesman for Smart Parking’s UK operations insisted the number of penalties issued in Perth is actually falling.
Local MP Pete Wishart said: “This company is making a profit based on the misery of the people of Perth.
“We are examining every opportunity in Parliament to try to bring Smart Parking to account and this will only encourage us in these endeavours.
“There is something grossly wrong with the way private car parking companies operate when they can turn a loss around by increasing their penalties.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, who was himself caught out at the Kinnoull site, said it is laughable that the company is claiming to have good customer relations.
He said: “No one in Perth will be surprised to learn that Smart Parking revenues derived from civil penalty notices has increased by 54%.
“I was, however, surprised to read that they describe this windfall as a result of ‘strengthened relations with existing customers’. In Perth their relationship with the local community is nothing short of toxic.
“It would appear as though fines levied in car parks around the UK, including Kinnoull Street, are helping to support a business that is losing money hand over fist.”
Mr Fraser urged the firm to “refocus” on customer service.
Smart Parking said: “We currently have around 1,100 car parks under management across the UK and three in the Perth area. Across these sites the number of motorists correctly paying for their parking is up, while the number of parking charge notices issued declined by 30% in the last month alone.”