Parking fines generated £560,000 for Gwynedd Council last year and council-operated car parks generated a further £2.7 million, but concerns have been raised over staffing shortages and abuse of traffic wardens.

The minutes from Aberdyfi Community Council's meeting on 19 October note that the county council's parking department reported collecting £560,000 from parking tickets, and £2.7 million from council-operated car parks.

Despite the substantial revenue, Aberdyfi councillors heard that just eight full-time and one part-time parking wardens were employed across Gwynedd.

Questions were raised about why some of the money could not be used to recruit additional enforcement staff. However, councillors were told that recruitment had proved difficult because of abuse directed towards parking wardens.

The minutes reveal that two wardens have been struck by vehicles while carrying out their duties, although the circumstances and dates of the incidents were not specified.

The figures were reported by Cllr Dewi Owen, Gwynedd's representative on Aberdyfi Community Council, following a presentation from the county authority's parking department.

Councillors also heard that some town and community councils, including Aberdyfi, receive a share of parking income.

Changes to parking charges and enforcement arrangements across Gwynedd were made earlier this year.

In February, the council approved extending enforcement hours in short-stay car parks from 9am to 5pm, alongside adjustments to long-stay parking charges.

The authority said the changes were intended to address a shortfall against its parking income targets.

Despite the revenue generated, Gwynedd's financial accounts for 2025/26 showed parking income remained £464,000 below budgeted expectations.

The latest figures raise questions about the balance between parking revenue, enforcement staffing and the resources available to manage parking across the county.

The reported receipts represent income rather than profit, with the council also facing costs associated with operating its parking services.