New ‘underhand’ traffic restriction makes £500,000 in fines from motorists in one WEEK

Angry motorists have slammed a council after it emerged a new traffic restriction had made more than £500,000 in just one week.

The restrictions were set up earlier this year by Kingston Council in south west London as part of a trial traffic-calming measure for a planned cycling route, and restrict usage of the road to buses, taxis, and for access only.

Any drivers passing through the bollards are subject to a minimum fine of £65 which rises to £195 if not paid within 28 days.

But the system has been branded a “money-making machine” after a letter sent to councillors revealed that 8,055 penalty charge notices were issued between November 14 and November 20 – making at least £525,000.

Roger Marlow, 74, from East Molesey, was fined £65 after driving through the bollards to reach his bridge club last month.

He said he had since returned and flagged down a number of cars who weren’t aware of the “underhand” restrictions.

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He said: “They must be making an absolute fortune, it must be a money making machine.

“I like to be law abiding but it’s a bit underhand to do that to say the least. Why have they done it?”

Tony Edmonds, 57, who lives nearby, said he will be appealing his two fines as he went in for access, and added that the signage is poor.

“They haven’t provided adequate notice to the road user,” he said. “It’s just diabolical. They can’t be charging people for their own incompetence.”

Kingston Council issued 5,482 warning notices to drivers passing through the bollards before “live enforcement” of the restrictions began on November 14.

The council is trialling the scheme as part of its mini-Holland proposals, which hope to build European-style cycle tracks across the borough as part of a £33m scheme.

Liberal Democrat leader Liz Green said: “It’s a scary amount of money.

“The whole thing from start to finish has been badly implemented – it’s just a disaster.”

The council says on its website that money raised through fines will be ring-fenced for transportation services and the trial is not a “money making scheme”.

A spokeswoman over the next few months it will measure the impacts of traffic flow and congestion on neighbouring roads and will then carry out consultation on whether or not to make the scheme permanent.

(Top picture: SWNS)