Council accused of Park Way bridge fines 'cover up'

West Berkshire Council has always suggested that a reported, successful Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) challenge was an anomaly.
But a Freedom of Information Act (FoI) request has painted a different picture.
In March, the independent TPT upheld an appeal by Reading motorist Peter Jeffries, who was fined £60 on September 12 last year for exiting one of the Wharf car parks into the bus, taxi and bicycle-only lane.
The adjudicator ruled the “alleged contravention did not occur” due to lack of warning, insufficient clarity and “insufficient opportunity to understand where the restriction begins and how to avoid it.”
Around 10,000 motorists having been fined since its introduction in November 2011.
Meanwhile, although the council failed in a bid to have the ruling overturned, highways portfolio holder Pamela Bale (Con, Pangbourne) accused the Newbury Weekly News of “misleading” reports over “one motorist who was let off his fine.”
A council statement added: “Only three drivers have challenged their fine through an independent tribunal and only one has been successful.”
However, yesterday, the council confirmed that a Freedom of Information Act request revealed that 329 appeals had been successful between November 2012 and February this year.
Mrs Bale has consistently declined to be interviewed on the matter but a council statement said: “The figure of three is the number of cases taken to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. The FoI relates to the number of bus lane Penalty Charge Notices issued and appeals lodged in the municipal year 2013/14 (based on the period November 2012 to February 2014).”
Pointing to the apparent discrepancy between appeal figures, we asked the council in writing whether it was making a distinction between appeals to the council and appeals to the tribunal.
A spokeswoman for the council, Peta Stoddart-Crompton replied: “No, we were explaining the terminology. For the purposes of the FoI request we have included all written bus lane penalty charge notice appeals submitted and that included cases ultimately resolved by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.”
Shadow portfolio holder Keith Woodhams (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) has called for changes to be made to the signs and pointed out: “Since the Conservative administration introduced the Park Way bridge penalties on the November 4, 2011, 10,501 penalty charge notices have been issued to motorists generating a staggering £282,915.00.”
He said this week: "They are playing on words to cover up and it's disgraceful. Community leaders should lead and Pamela Bale should want to find out why motorists keep getting fined there, not just express surprise.
"But instead, they're happy to keep taking the money."