Moor End Bus Lane in Hemel Hempstead could cost the County Council dear
November 17, 2011 1:38 PM
Originally published by Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats
Some of the motorists who were caught out when the County Council enforced a bus lane on a small section of Moor End Road in Hemel Hempstead will no longer have to pay their fines, after the Council failed to contest their appeals.
More than 25,000 drivers have been caught out by the road traffic camera enforcing the bus lane since it became operational in August, in an attempt to ease congestion in the town centre.
The Council levied more than £500,000 in fines to the 17,967 drivers who paid up, leading to media speculation in September that the camera was one of the most lucrative in the country.
But after the council did not contest 53 appeals to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, concerns were raised that the Council could face a bill for hundreds of thousands of pounds if it decided to reimburse all motorists who paid the fine.
Nick Hollinghurst, one of the two Dacorum Lib Dem County councillors, said: "I'm very firm in my belief that private individuals should not have to pay for public mistakes.
"At the same time, if the Council does have to refund the money, then there would be serious financial loss for the County Council, at a time when it can ill afford it."
The council said it did not contest the appeals because staff could not process the paperwork in time. It contested seven of the appeals, while 2,029 appeals are awaiting internal review.
A council spokeswoman refused to give a total figure for fines levied but did not dispute that they totalled more than half a million pounds. She added that the Council itself had "only" made £44,594 from the camera, after the cost of installing the system and operational costs were taken into account.
The £60 fine is reduced to £30 if drivers pay quickly.
Asked why motorists were caught out by the scheme in the first place, Nick Hollinghurst commented: "People have been driving down that road in both directions for about 50 years. The bus lane was planned in 2006 but nothing was done for 5 years.
"Some of the signs were put in unhelpful positions - you're on the left side of the dual carriageway and the huge sign is on the right hand side of the road by the traffic lights you're not looking at. Overall, the scheme was very badly designed.
"I actually wrote to the Minister responsible on 18th October, way before the Council managed to take any action - even though I kept the Highways Portfolio Holder informed of everything I was doing. I heard back from the minister the day before the Council finally wrote its own letter on November 10th!"
(Original reporting by Tom Rowley, Press Association, with additional comment by Nik Alatortsev, Herts Lib Dems Press Officer)
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