The Surbiton Crescent traffic restrictions caused an eye-watering £4.5 million of fines to be issued in the first year.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that between November 14, 2016, and November 13, 2017, 68,820 notices were sent to motorists who contravened the restrictions.

Starting at £65, and rising to £195 if not paid within 28 days, the minimum value of the fines is estimated to be £4,473,300.

Helen Hinton, who presented a petition to the council calling in the decision to make the traffic restrictions permanent in June, still opposes the scheme.

She said: “It’s an absolutely amazing amount of money. I still feel the same. I think that people who signed the petition have been vindicated. It’s a huge amount of money the council has made for no good reason – you hardly see any cyclists using it.”

The restrictions were put in place as part of Kingston Council’s £30 million “mini-Holland” GoCycle scheme, funded by the Mayor of London.

Ms Hinton said: “In an ideal world, the council should probably look at giving some of the people their money back. It’s absolutely extraordinary for such a small road.

“I think most residents will look at the amount of money that has been paid and feel they have a lack of confidence in the leadership of the council, in the way they have gone about it.”

A trial scheme began in September 2016, and fines began being issued in November that year - more than £500,000 of fines were issued in the first week.

The restrictions were made permanent by the council in June this year.

Councillor Phil Doyle, portfolio holder responsible for the Go Cycle programme said: "When the scheme was first introduced there were high levels of contravention and a large number of PCNs were issued. The number of contraventions observed has steadily declined.

"The council does not decide the charges. These are set by a London-wide body called London Councils to ensure that charges are consistent throughout London and the money from the PCNs is legally ring-fenced for road improvements.

"The traffic assessment shows that traffic volumes in Surbiton Crescent have reduced by half. Most of the displaced traffic has been re-assigned to other roads that continue to operate satisfactorily and traffic speeds have reduced - meaning it is safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

"The more we develop the Go Cycle network, and join up the various routes, the more we expect cyclists to use it."