A major council driving scheme that has generated hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines from parents on the school run could face a mass challenge, after a tribunal overturned a penalty on the grounds of poor signage.
One Driver's Victory Puts 25,000 Fines in Doubt
The controversy centres on Medway Council's School Streets initiative, which bans motorists from using roads outside 11 schools in Kent during peak drop-off and pick-up times. The scheme, launched in March last year, operates between 8:15am and 9am, and 2:45pm and 3:45pm on designated roads.
Since its introduction, the council has issued a staggering more than 25,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), raking in an estimated £678,690 from drivers. However, the entire enforcement regime is now under scrutiny after resident Chris Lee successfully challenged his fine.
The 56-year-old carpet business owner was fined £35 in September for driving down Richmond Road in Gillingham one morning. Mr Lee immediately appealed, stating he had not seen any signs prohibiting access. After the council rejected his initial appeal, he took the case to an independent tribunal, which ruled in his favour last month on 'signage grounds' and revoked the fine.
'You Literally Blink and You Miss the Signs'
Chris Lee described the signage as wholly inadequate for a busy main road. 'You literally blink, and you miss the signs,' he said. 'It was a total mystery to me. It is too wordy. The road I got caught in is pretty much a main road, and yet for two hours of the day, cars and motorbikes can’t go down there.'
His victory has sparked a wave of interest from other fined motorists. 'I have seen lots of locals commenting on how they now wish they did the same rather than paying the fine,' Mr Lee noted. His case has directly raised the question of whether all the fines issued under the scheme could potentially be void if the signage is deemed non-compliant.
Council Defends Scheme Amid Growing Backlash
In response, Medway Council has defended its actions. A spokesperson stated: 'We have successfully defended a number of appeals at this location, and this is the first in which an adjudicator has found against us on signage grounds.'
The council added that it would review the tribunal's decision but remained 'satisfied that signage at this site is adequate and compliant with the relevant legal standards.' They pledged to continue reviewing feedback to ensure the scheme operates effectively.
This case in Kent coincides with a wider national pushback against what some campaigners call unfair traffic fines. Notably, Sam Wright, 48, has helped get hundreds of yellow box junction fines overturned in the last 18 months alone.
Mr Wright argues the system is deeply flawed. 'At the moment a lot of drivers are being ripped off and it is a very unfair system,' he told Metro. 'A lot of people are getting tickets when they are not guilty. Authorities are misquoting the law to them in a way that makes them think they are.' He cited examples of minor infringements, such as a motorbike wheel centimetres over a line, resulting in hefty penalties.
The outcome of Medway Council's signage review and any potential collective appeal could determine the fate of nearly £680,000 worth of penalties, setting a significant precedent for similar Low Traffic Neighbourhood and School Streets schemes across the UK.
