Outraged residents have slammed Kingston Council for a “diabolical” traffic restriction scheme in Surbiton after it was revealed it had made more than £500,000 in fines in just one week.

Temporary bollards and sign posts went up in Surbiton Crescent on September 5 as part of a trial traffic-calming measure for the proposed Tolworth mini-Holland route.

A letter sent to councillors and seen by the Surrey Comet revealed that in total 8,055 penalty charge notices have been issued to motorists driving through Surbiton Crescent from Monday, November 14, to Sunday, November 20.

The amount of money owed to the council is estimated to be at least £523,575.

Drivers passing through the bollards will receive a minimum fine of £65, with charges reaching an eye-watering £195 if not paid within 28 days.

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said since the beginning of the trial, 12,057 penalty charges had been issued, totalling a minumum income of £783,705.

Surrey Comet:

Drivers who pass through the bollards could receive a fine up to £195

Enraged residents have branded the measures as a “money-making machine”.

Roger Marlow, 74, from East Molesey, plays bridge at the Masonic Hall in Surbiton Crescent and was fined after driving through the bollards last month.

He said: “I went through there and got a £65 ticket. When I went this week I flagged down a number of cars who didn’t know not to go through there.

“They must be making an absolute fortune. It must be a money making machine. At least eight or nine cars went through.

“There are some notices but there hasn’t been a consultation. I like to be law abiding but it’s a bit underhand to do that to say the least. Why have they done it?”

Tony Edmonds, 57, of nearby Mayfair Close, said he would be appealing his two fines.

He said: “One came through on November 17 but I drove through on November 24. I’m aware there’s a no turn into the Crescent but the road I went through was to go in for access.

“The signage is very poor but I’m liable to get a couple more tickets. I spoke to the council and they said they’re getting a lot of complaints about it.

“They said around 5,500 warning notices had been given out. That means people don’t understand the signage.

“They haven’t provided adequate notice to the road user. The signage they put up at the corner of Maple Road says it’s restricted not that there’s no entry.

“I would like to know what they’re going to do. It’s just diabolical. They can’t be charging people for their own incompetence.”

Surrey Comet:

Only buses and taxis and those for access are allowed through the bollards

Antonia Jones, 54, from Teddington, agreed that the signage was “completely inadequate”.

She said: “If they just put up a sign to say that there’s cameras there then this would be avoided.

“Given, as the council have said drivers should be aware of signs, but it isn’t bold enough.

“It’s habit more than anything. I use that road all the time.

“The letter took 10 days to get to me also, which is also terrible. I could have been fined 10 times between then and now and there would be nothing I could do about it because I didn’t know.”

Kingston Council issued 5,482 warning notices to drivers passing through the bollards before “live enforcement” of the restrictions began on November 14.

The council is trialling only allowing cyclists and buses to use the road as a cut through as part of the mini-Holland proposals.

Councillors hope to build European-style cycle tracks across the borough as part of the £33m scheme, which is officially called Go-Cycle.

The proposals have been plagued with difficulties, most recently after councillors were forced to scrap plans to demolish the Fountain roundabout in New Malden amid furious protests from residents.

Liberal Democrat leader Liz Green said: “It’s a scary amount of money. The whole thing from start to finish has been badly implemented - it’s just a disaster.

“One of my mates said to me she got fined on the first day. I don’t think people are deliberately doing it, but if you’ve been driving that route for years you’re just on autopilot.

“There is just a plethora of signs. There was no consultation, there was no chance to object."

Grove ward councillor Jon Tolley said: “If people are disobeying the signs then something is going wrong. We need to look at what’s happening there.

“The thing that would make it more permanent looking can’t be put in because it’s still a trial. 8,000 people in a week is so many people who are not understanding it.”

The council says on its website that money raised through fines will be ring-fenced for transportation services and the trial is not a “money making scheme”.

Surrey Comet:

An example of the fine drivers will receive if they drive through the area

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said: “Surbiton Crescent forms a key part of the proposed Kingston to Surbiton and Tolworth cycle route. In order to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, we are conducting a trial road closure which is aimed at reducing traffic.

“The proposal diverts traffic that uses Surbiton Crescent as a through-route. However, vehicles travelling to and from Anglesea Road, Palace Road and Uxbridge Road can still use the section of Surbiton Crescent south of Angelsea Road.

“The closure has been in place since September 5. Since then, the council has been monitoring traffic flows, and following a lengthy bedding in process, which included the installation of cameras and the issuing of warning notices, has started issuing fines to motorists who fail to comply with the closure.

“Over the next few months the council will be measuring the actual impacts of traffic flow and congestion on neighbouring roads and will subsequently carry out consultation on whether or not to make the scheme permanent.”