Tottenham Journal
Drivers fined for stopping inside an "illegal" yellow-box junction outside Tottenham bus station should get their money back, a councillor has demanded.
The box junction in Philip Lane was installed by Haringey Council to freeup access to the Arriva garage - but it did not meet Department for Transport regulations and was unenforceable.
Before the mistake was realised 3,746 drivers were issued with penalty charge notices between December 2005 and May 20063
Councillor Alan Stanton (Labour), of Tottenham Hale ward, has called for the m0oney from fines to be refunded.
He said: "You make a mistake, you apologise and you pay the money back, otherwise public confidence is compromised."
He added: "Clearly they are illegal.  They're not legally enforceable."
He estimates if half the people ticketed had paid at £50 a time, the council could have netted up to £100,000 from the blunder.
"Haringey did the right thing for a good reason, but it turned out to be the wrong thing and we should apologise and give the money back," he said.
After writing three letters to Councillor Brian Haley, the council's parking chief, to no response, Councillor Stanton has now lodged a freedom of information request.
"I've asked how many people paid, how many people have been refunded, how many people were taken to court," he said.

Drivers are advised to contact the council to ask for their money back.
A council spokesman said: "Councillor Stanton has requested detailed information and this is being treated as a freedom of information inquiry.  He has been informed of this.