Green city’s ‘cash cow’ camera captures drivers every two minutes

BRITAIN’S busiest traffic camera is catching a driver every two minutes, as a Tory councillor said the city’s Green administration is “cashing in”.

Brighton council has been criticised for treating drivers like “cash cows” after experimental traffic cameras in the

Valley Gardens caught 310 motorists daily – catching one person every two minutes during busy periods.

The four cameras, at Marlborough Place, St George’s Place, St Peter’s Place and York Place, were installed to monitor traffic on roads that had been limited for the use of buses, taxis and bicycles.

They have captured 9,618 motorists in the past month alone, and brought in thousands of pounds of fines. More than half of the 10,000 fines issued in October were linked to one of the cameras.

Robert Nemeth, a Tory councillor, said that his “jaw dropped” when he found out about the “extraordinary number of fines”. He said that if traffic was busy for 10 hours a day then at peak times the council was fining 30 drivers an hour, or one every two minutes.

“It is clearly being used as a revenueraising measure by stealth, which sees the council cashing in on confusion and hurting the city’s economy.”

Mr Nemeth said that the council was “ripping off the public” and should be made to “return the huge sums that have been extorted”. He said that some motorists who were confused by the new rules were being fined after driving on the unauthorised roads – despite some attempting to reverse once they had realised their mistake.

He accused Labour and the Greens of making the traffic order permanent despite the issues because of their desire to create a “car-free city centre”. Local people expressed anger in a report shown to the environment, transport and sustainability committee.

One labelled the bus lanes “completely unclear and unnecessary”, while another accused the council of being “money hungry”. Brighton and Hove council was contacted for comment.