Bedford Borough Council’s CCTV enforcement vehicles have raised a staggering £303k in just over 2 years according to a new report. The Council’s response to a Freedom of Information request from civil liberties group, Big Brother Watch showed that 7,715 fines were issued by the 2 vehicles from the purchase of the first vehicle in December 2010 to March 2013.
According to Bedford Borough Conservative Group Leader Cllr Stephen Moon the report is further evidence of the vehicles being used to raise cash for the Council rather than to address safety concerns.
The vehicles can be in operation 7 days a week from 7am – 10pm and Cllr Moon thinks this draconian enforcement is harming businesses by discouraging people from visiting the town centre.
Cllr Moon said:
‘The Council has not been honest in explaining how it uses these vehicles and it has not asked residents and businesses for their say. I am sure most people would support enforcement to prevent dangerous parking outside schools or on grass verges but these vehicles seem to spend most of their time trawling the town centre for fines by targeting users of restaurants and takeaways even when there are no road safety or congestion issues.
‘The Traffic Penalty Tribunal has said CCTV vehicles should only be used where enforcement is ‘difficult, sensitive or enforcement by wardens is not practical’. This is clearly not being adhered to by the Council and the cameras are being misused.
‘The vast revenue being raised by the vehicles is a growing scandal and the Mayor is using residents as a cash cow. One of the vehicles should be scrapped and the use of the remaining vehicle should have a clearly defined community use responding to residents’ concerns. Parking enforcement needs a softer approach where it meets the needs of the people and not the Council’s finances.’