Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service reveals that 1,063 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were slapped on windscreens in Winckley Square in Preston city centre, while 1,003 were dished out on Ashton Road in Lancaster.
Together, the two locations accounted for more than a quarter of the 7,644 fines given to drivers across the 10 most-ticketed roads in the Lancashire County Council area, which excludes Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.
Preston and Lancaster dominated that list – compiled up to 22nd December – with each occupying four of the spots.
Parking in Winckley Square is limited to pay and display bays and those reserved for permit holders.
Meanwhile, on Ashton Road – a stretch of which runs in front of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary – there are a mixture of time-limited free spaces and bays that are available only to blue badge holders, ambulances and police vehicles.
Breaches of roadside parking rules in Lancashire attract PCNs of £50, but the fines are halved to £25 if paid within 14 days.
Tickets are handed to motorists caught committing offences including parking on yellow lines, failing to purchase a pay and display ticket, overstaying the parking time for which they have paid and exceeding the waiting limits in force within free parking bays.
The county council is responsible for enforcing on-street parking regulations throughout its patch, while individual district authorities monitor the off-street local authority-run car parks in their areas – with the exception of Preston Bus Station, which is also a County Hall-controlled facility.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said of the parking fine data: “Penalty charge notices play an important role in keeping our roads safe and traffic moving. While they do generate income, their primary purpose is to deter unsafe or unauthorised behaviour that can cause delays or put others at risk.
“Any income received is reinvested into Lancashire’s highways network – funding maintenance, safety improvements, and measures that benefit all road users.
“We encourage drivers to plan ahead, observe signs and markings, and follow the Highway Code. Good driving habits help reduce congestion, improve public transport reliability, and make our roads safer for everyone.”
The most ticketed streets in Lancashire 2025
Source: Lancashire County Council (figures covering the period 1st January – 22nd December, 2025)
