Portsmouth Council Owed £143k By Foreign Drivers

Portsmouth City Council's hired a private firm to help it claim back unpaid parking fines from foreign drivers.

Officials have revealed £143,000 worth of debts have mounted up over the last 4 years, as people from abroad leave the UK again without paying the fines.

They've now called in Euro Parking Collection to track down those who owe money. The company will get around 30% of the reclaimed fines as payment - with the council getting the rest.

Michael Robinson, the council's parking operations manager, said:

"The council pays nothing at all. We only pay a percentage of the debt that they collect.

"The money goes towards paying for things that people need, such as social service, lollypop men and women outside schools and the myriad of other things that councils are expected to supply."