A council has been forced to refund more than 1,000 drivers over £100,000 in fines due to a confusing road sign blunder. Lambeth Council agreed to refund at least £106,000 in fines after it admitted that unclear road signs were erected near a school street for six months.
Cars are banned from driving outside Henry Cavendish primary school in Balham, south west London, during school collection times - from 8:15am until 9:15am and between 2:45pm to 3:45pm every weekday. Some 1,635 fines were issued to motorists from May to November last year, with nearly 400 challenging these PCNs, which were for £130 reduced to £65 if paid within two weeks.
It means Lambeth Council would have to cough up £106,275 if all 1,635 fines were paid at the £65 level, rising to as much as £212,550 if all the PCNs were paid at the higher rate. New signage was meant to tell drivers not to use a short section of the road during school drop off and pick ups, but many said it was not obvious the area was closed during these times.
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