Speed trap fines are scrapped in blunder

Thousands of motorists caught in London's most controversial speed camera trap are to have fines refunded after Transport for London admitted one of the devices was in the wrong place.

The refunds - totalling £330,000 - are a serious blow to the credibility of one of London's highest profile speed trap sites.

The 20mph speed limit in Upper Thames Street rakes in about ?4,000 a day because drivers do not associate a busy dual carriageway with such a low limit. It has caused fury among the road's 60,000 daily users.

But the Standard has learned that one of the new digital Specs cameras on the street was wrongly installed outside the 20mph zone.

The fault applies only to the westbound direction, but more than 160 drivers a week have been wrongly fined £60 and given points on their licences. The London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP), which operates the scheme, admitted in a statement today: "A sign marking the start of a 20mph speed limit zone on Upper Thames Street is incorrectly positioned.

"As a consequence motorists were being monitored for a 20mph limit whilst still in the 30mph zone for a short distance. We will refund all the fines paid and cancel all the licence endorsements. Whilst the signs are repositioned, mobile cameras will operate."

Nearly 5,600 motorists are affected by the error, it is understood. The fines refund will total at least £335,800.

The LSCP decided on the refunds at its project board meeting earlier this week, the Standard has learned. The partnership is now braced for legal action from furious drivers who may wrongly have lost their licences.

"It is a biggie," said one source. "It is a very sensitive decision."

The new cameras were installed almost eight months ago to cover a stretch of building works between London and Southwark bridges.

Unlike standard Gatso cameras, they measure speed between a pair of devices. A single camera out of place throws the entire scheme into chaos, with the result that everyone passing through must be refunded.

This year it emerged the Upper Thames Street scheme had collected £84,000 in fines in only three weeks.