Elmbridge Council Opens Refund Scheme for Incorrectly Issued Parking Fines

Elmbridge Borough Council has apologised for a procedural error that led to over 9,000 parking fines (Penalty Charge Notices – PCNs) being incorrectly issued in council car parks across the borough since January 2020. To address this, the council has introduced a refund scheme for affected customers.

Refund Scheme Details

The refund application window is open from 3 June 2026 to 20 October 2026. As of the latest update, 1,924 eligible applications have been received, with 1,827 already paid and more in progress.

The affected car parks are located in Esher, Cobham, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, and Weybridge. Specific eligibility depends on when and where the fines were issued:

Parking fines issued between 8am and 9am, and between 6pm and 7pm since 6 January 2020 in the following car parks: Berguette, Esher Civic Centre, Heather Place, Highwayman’s Cottage (all Esher), Cedar Road and Hollyhedge Road (Cobham), Drewitt’s Court and Manor Road (Walton-on-Thames), Churchfield Road, Monument Hill, and Baker Street (Weybridge).
Parking fines issued on any Sunday since 24 April 2022 in the above car parks plus Mayfield Road (Hersham), Ashley Park, Station Avenue, and Walton Park (Walton-on-Thames), and Heath North and Heath South (Weybridge).
For Ashley Park car park in Walton-on-Thames, fines issued between 8am and 10am or between 6pm and 7pm since 6 January 2020 may also be eligible.

In total, 9,318 PCNs were issued in these car parks since 2020.

How to Apply for a Refund

Customers who received a parking fine in any of the affected car parks during the specified times may apply for a refund starting in June 2026. Applications can be submitted online via the council’s website or by phone at 01372 474 474.

Applicants will need to provide:

Name and contact details
Vehicle registration number
Proof of payment for the parking fine
Bank details for refund payment

The council aims to process and pay refunds within two weeks of receiving a valid claim.

Council Statements and Next Steps

Dawn Crewe, Strategic Director at Elmbridge Borough Council, said:
“We are very sorry that a procedural error led to some parking fines being issued incorrectly. Once we identified the issue, we worked quickly to put things right and introduce a refund scheme. We have designed the process to be as straightforward as possible so that anyone affected can reclaim their money, and we aim to issue refunds within two weeks of a valid claim submission.”

Councillor Mike Rollings, Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council, said:
“I apologise to everyone affected by this mistake. We’re determined to put this right quickly, and we will open a clear, simple refund process as soon as possible so people can get their money back.”

Councillor Kirsty Hewens, Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Parking and Local Economy, said:
“I’m very sorry this happened, and I know it will have caused real inconvenience for some people. That’s why I’m determined to open the refund process ASAP. When it does open, I encourage anyone affected to contact us so we can process their refund. Once a claim is approved, our aim is to pay refunds within 2 weeks.”

Additional Measures

Alongside issuing refunds, Elmbridge Borough Council is implementing legal changes to increase the number of council car parks offering 30 minutes of free parking on a trial basis and to reduce charging hours in town centre car parks. These changes are expected to come into effect by July 2026. The council also froze car parking charges in its 2026/27 budget.