ACTIVISTS 'WIN' IN ROAD SIGNS CASH COW ROW

Published: 11 February 2011
by JOSH LOEB

A CITY hall review could lead to its paying back millions of pounds to drivers fined on Westminster roads.

On Friday council parking chief Kevin Goad dramatically announced that moving traffic enforcement at eight sites in the borough had been suspended.

His comments came in an email to a member of campaign group the No To Mob who had highlighted what they say are faults in traffic signs and called on Mr Goad to investigate. 

Mr Goad said: “The review of sites is already underway and we have suspended enforcement at all sites in the interim.”

The development was welcomed by campaigners and opposition councillors, who claim City Hall is exploiting motorists as “cash cows”.

If the review concludes the signs do not comply with legislation, it could pave the way for thousands of drivers fined by the council to claim their money back.

A member of the No To Mob, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is not an admission by the council and they might come back and say they have investigated and found the signs are OK.” But he added: “I am 99.9 per cent sure that I’m right and that all these signs are wrong.”

The No To Mob is a breakaway group formed by members of No To the Bike Parking Tax, which campaigns against motorcycle parking fees. As well as many bikers, its ranks include car drivers and cabbies, some of whom wear masks from the film V for Vendetta – about an uprising against a totalitarian authority, with which they compare Westminster City Council. They carry out regular protests and “hunts” of CCTV camera cars. 

Last month the group won a victory when City Hall’s head of transport, Martin Low, admitted signs at one site – the junction of Lower James Street and Brewer Street in Soho – were “not as clear as they should be”. He apologised to motorists wrongly fined for driving straight across at the junction and said they should contact the council for a refund.

Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said the council should refund drivers’ money immediately if it was found to be at fault.

He said: “Once again there is a serious problem with the council’s parking regime and many hundreds, if not thousands, of motorists may have been wrongly fined. Many millions of pounds may have to be given back.” 

A No To Mob spokesman said confusing signage compromised safety as it could lead to accidents.

He said: “It’s not enough to say contact the council for a refund. They’ve got names and addresses. They’re very eager to take money off people but they won’t contact them and say ok, here you go, here’s your money back.”

Lee Rowley, cabinet member for parking, said: “We work hard to ensure our roads have clear and relevant signs and markings and it is great to see members of the public helping us to be as clear as possible with this. I’d like to express my thanks to those people who have pointed out where we could be clearer which, in turn, is helping to ensure Westminster Council provides an even better service for everyone.”