MOTORISTS in Basingstok e and Deane are more likely to win an appeal against a parking fine than in any other council area.

On average just over a third (38 per cent) of initial driver challenges to on-street parking fines made to local authorities in England between January and October 2016 were successful, according to figures obtained by the Press Association through Freedom of Information requests.

However, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is going against the grain with 95 per cent of appealed fines being approved.

In the period of January to October 2016, the borough council received 566 challenges, of which 540 were approved, with the next highest councils being Waveney in Suffolk, South Tyneside and Swale in Kent, who all accepted around seven in 10 appeals.

Cllr Simon Bound said: “We issued nearly 7,600 tickets between January and October last year, of which 540 were successfully challenged.

“We consider each formal appeal carefully, taking into account individual circumstances, and have always viewed parking enforcement as a way of educating rather than punishing motorists. But we know that inconsiderate parking causes real issues, particularly in residential areas and close to schools.

“We do take action against those who park in a way which is obstructive or dangerous and we are moving towards more rigorous enforcement in future.”

In contrast to Basingstoke, Runnymede Borough Council, in Surrey, accepted just over 9 per cent of appeals.

Managing editor of MoneySavingExpert.com Guy Anker said: “If the councils accepting the fewest challenges are wrongly rejecting claims it’ s an absolute disgrace.”

The Press Association asked councils for the number of challenges to parking fines received between January and October 2016, and how many were deemed successful.