THOUSANDS of pounds was overpaid by Lake District motorists last year because they did not have the correct change for parking.

Information obtained by The Westmorland Gazette revealed none of the 16 car parks operated by the Lake District National Park Authority, where a fee is payable, dispense change.

It means drivers who do not have the exact amount pay more than they should.

In a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, The Westmorland Gazette asked the authority how much money it received in over-payments through its car parks.

The authority said the time it would take to collate the exact figures would exceed the “appropriate limit” to which they are bound by the Act.

However, it revealed a “reasonable estimate” of the overpayments it received based on Hawkshead car park where it costs £1.80 for up to an hour’s stay.

The document showed that 1.337 percent of Hawkshead car park’s £110,000 income in 2009/10 was overpaid, meaning the organisation received an extra £1,470.70 from it.

Based on this information, the authority estimated that combined overpayments for all 16 car parks in 2009/10 was £14,486.

David Coxon, operations manager at the Lake District National Park Authority, said the organisation did not operate meters that give change because of cost and security reasons.

“The machines needed to dispense change are huge in order to keep the change inside and they are very expensive,” said Mr Coxon. “Those that give change cost about £10,000, whereas our’s cost about £3,000. The amount of change left overnight makes them a target for thieves.”

Mr Coxon said the overpayments the authority receive are budgeted for.

“As with all car park charges, overpayments go back into running the authority — not just parking but other areas such as toilets and staffing. When we budget for the year, the top line includes that overpayment,” he said.

Mr Coxon added that the £10m it cost to run the authority was only part-funded by a government grant and they had to find the rest.

In addition to last year’s overpayments, the LDNPA predicted it received £13,232 in overpaid charges in 2008/09 and £13,990 in 2007/08.

However, the authority pointed out 14 of its car parks allowed drivers without the correct change to pay for their parking by telephone and 11 offered the option of paying by credit or debit card.

About £15,023 is expected to be overpaid by drivers using LDNPA car parks in 2010/11 under the current no-change system.