Newly released figures show that Colegate in Norwich was the street with the most parking penalties issued by Norfolk County Council between December 2024 and November 2025, prompting residents and local workers to urge a review of signage and parking arrangements.
How many tickets were handed out?
The council’s data reveal that 985 fines were issued on Colegate during the 12-month period. That total makes the street the highest in the city for parking enforcement and the most penalised location in Norwich in each year since 2021, according to the authority.
Why drivers say the street is problematic
People who live and work on Colegate say the combination of complex restrictions and competing users has created chronic parking tension. Contributing factors highlighted by locals include:
- Confusing signage: different rules on each side of the road, with one side free after 6pm while the opposite side is reserved for St Mary’s permit holders.
- High short-stay costs: parking costs include an initial 15 minutes for £1.15, with each further 15-minute increment charged at 65p.
- School and hotel traffic: parents using the road during term time and visitors to a nearby Premier Inn in the evenings are said to add to congestion and obstruct access.
Local tradespeople say the expense and complexity have practical consequences. A self-employed carpenter who regularly parks a work van on the street told reporters that the charges are a burden.
"The parking is quite expensive."
Recent price change and limited free slots
The council increased the cost of each additional 15-minute period from 60p to 65p on 20 April for 24 Norwich streets, including Colegate. There is a small amount of free parking on Sundays, reportedly space for about four cars outside St George Colegate church, but that is of limited value to those who need regular access.
| Street | Tickets issued (Dec 2024–Nov 2025) |
|---|---|
| Colegate | 985 |
| Geoffrey Watling Way | Ranked second (figure not published) |
Residents and business owners say they want the county council to act to make rules clearer and to consider whether the current mix of permits, pay-and-display and evening restrictions is appropriate for the street’s mix of homes, a school and nearby hotel accommodation.
Norfolk County Council enforces the parking rules and confirmed it holds the figures showing Colegate as the top location for tickets. The data have prompted renewed calls from locals for a review of signage, potential changes to permit arrangements and consideration of how to reduce conflict between permit holders, short-stay visitors and tradespeople who need to load and unload.
For drivers who use Colegate regularly, the practical takeaway is to check the signs carefully and use the pay-and-display machines when appropriate — remembering the stepped charges for short stays — and to be aware that one side of the street is exclusively for permit holders outside the evening hours.
