A MOTORIST caught out by CCTV cameras at Feltham Station has successfully appealed against a fine issued by Hounslow Council.
The Chronicle reported last week that campaigners were claiming the authority was 'ripping off' residents who used a bus stand on New Road to pick up or drop off train passengers.
Figures revealed that since cameras had been installed 7,119 penalty charge notices had been issued to drivers stopping at the bus stand, raising £337,724 for the council.
One of those to receive a fine was Robert Barton, who was issued a penalty notice after dropping off his wife, who has a disabled badge, on July 22 this year.
He said: "According to photographic evidence, I was stationary for only 17 seconds, and the person issuing the penalty notice would have seen that my wife uses a walking stick, but still they considered this meriting a fine of £110."
After receiving the penalty notice, Mr Barton returned to the station to check if there was suitable signage warning motorists about possible fines.
He said: "I decided to appeal against the penalty notice on the grounds that the bus stand was not used and the restrictions should no longer apply, and that even if they did, the signage was not clearly visible to motorists approaching the area.
"I also pointed out the lack of a suitable drop off point for passengers and that it was reasonable to drop off a disabled passenger in the bus stand bay, to avoid blocking the road, which becomes busy whenever the barriers are down."
The council refused to cancel the penalty notice so Mr Barton decided to appeal to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service, attending a hearing on November 12.
The council did not attend the hearing, but produced CCTV of Mr Barton's car stopped at the bus stand and library images of the location showing the signage.
The Adjudicator who reviewed the case, however, decided that the evidence provided by the council was not sufficient as it did not show a 'no stopping' sign.
He said: "Considering carefully all the evidence before me, I cannot find as a fact that, on this particular occasion, a contravention did occur."
A council spokesman confirmed that the bus stand is still in use for shuttle bus services to Bedfont Lakes Office Park and Stockley Park and that the situation is under review.
He added: "We are pleased that the customer exercised his rights of appeal and had a favourable outcome. We held a different opinion but respect the views of the adjudicator.
"This continues to support our stance that the appeal stage offers a truly independent review of our enforcement practice and appellants should use this avenue should they feel they have a case."
Campaigners, backed by Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, are calling for the bus stand to be turned into a short-term drop off/pick up point for rail passengers.
