Calls for reimbursal of flawed Streatham Common box junction fines (From Streatham Guardian)

Calls for reimbursal of flawed Streatham Common box junction fines

12:20pm Thursday 27th August 2009

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Lambeth Council is being called on to pay back hundreds of motorists handed parking fines at a controversial junction in Streatham Common.

The yellow box at the junction of Eardley Road and Streatham Vale was ruled by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (Patas) as “not a proper location for such a box junction”.

The council recently burned off part of the box junction after a string of successful appeals against fines.

Drivers argued they were ticketed by waiting council CCTV cars for stopping inside the yellow box - even though the junction was laid out so motorists could not see if there was an exit before turning in to it.

But hundreds of motorists caught at the junction who did not appeal have not had the fines reimbursed.

The tickets are estimated to have brought in tens of thousands of pounds in revenue for the council.

Streatham Common resident Kevin Potter, who after a lengthy legal battle with Lambeth was reimbursed the fine given to his wife, said the council was “exploiting motorists who did not have the time or money to appeal their fines”.

He said he was told on various occasions he had no grounds to appeal, and claims after citing previous cases of successful appeals by motorists in identical situations he was “stalled" by Lambeth’s parking service, who did not reply to him until his appeal period had elapsed.

He said it was only after fighting through the civil court system he was paid back the fine and his legal costs, adding: “The council should pay back the hundreds of motorists ticketed for absolutely the same offence who did not appeal.”

A council spokesman said such incidents were “rare” and motorists should have confidence in the appeals system.

He added: “The original design of the junction was deemed to be lawful and compliant with design standards, however, we have since made some amendments to improve it following feedback from members of the public.”

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