BOURNEMOUTH council has pocketed more than £100,000 from traffic fines following the Ashley Road bridge closure, new figures have revealed.
Despite handing out a staggering 4,284 fines to motorists who drove through Gloucester Road, the council has only recouped £103,000.
Figures received under the Freedom of Information Act also show that the council spent £160,000 on diverting traffic while Boscombe’s Ashley Road was closed as well as enforcing a temporary bus lane at Gloucester Road.
And, in a case that could have further repercussions for the council, around 15 aggrieved motorists will go before a tribunal next month to argue that the fines they received were unlawful.
Bournemouth council has previously been accused of cashing in on the closure of Ashley Road bridge but Cllr Robert Lawton, cabinet member for environment and transport, denied this was the case.
He told the Daily Echo: “We reject the suggestion that the temporary opening of Kings Park during the Ashley Road Bridge closure was a money-making exercise. Any surplus will be used to support road safety schemes within the town.
“The Ashley Road bridge replacement works, carried out by Network Rail last year, came at an unfortunate time for Boscombe traders and incurred a number of costs to the council.
“We were only informed by Network Rail last summer of their exact dates to carry out these works. By that time the budget for the year had been set.
“Rather than do nothing to maintain access to Boscombe, the council implemented a number of diversionary routes and positive schemes to support the local community as much as we could.”
Cllr Lawton added that the council was trying to claim back some of its costs from Network Rail and was also hoping the company would reconsider traders’ claims for compensation.
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