Councils in CCTV clip-off

COUNCILS are billing drivers £10 a time to view CCTV footage of alleged motoring offences.

Town hall chiefs get the cash every time a driver asks for a hard copy of video film being used to support a fine against them.

It comes as local authorities try to plug the gaps in funding caused by Government cuts. We found seven councils – including Wigan, Derbyshire and Luton – who are charging to watch images of a penalty charge notice.

Last night campaigners slammed it as another “cash grab” on drivers. Luke Bosdet of the AA’s motoring policy unit told us: “It is quite clear councils are doing anything and everything to raise funds from drivers.

“They are forcing motorists to go to appeal on penalty charges in the hope they will be intimidated into cutting their losses and paying up rather than paying another fee to view a DVD of their footage.

“If the penalty charge notice is found to be wrong, the ticket and the fee for the DVD should be rescinded.” Last week it was revealed that a single no-right turn camera had netted Merton Council in London more than £519,000 from 12,445 drivers in 15 months.

In December it emerged 70,000 motorists were slapped with £65 penalties after being caught out by temporary traffic calming in Surbiton, Surrey. Two councils defended the DVD charge.

A spokeswoman for Luton Council said: “The nominal fee we request for a hard copy DVD is simply to cover costs and has very rarely been taken advantage of due to the excellent free provision available to anyone appealing a fine.”

Richmond Council in west London said: “Those people who have requested a copy of the footage pertaining to their PCN can use the free online portal.

“People who require a hard copy have to pay £10 towards admin costs, downloading, DVD and postage.”