In just one year nearly 22,000 parking  fines were handed out to drivers travelling down a single Croydon Street. 

Surrey Street in Croydon was pedestrianised back in 2017, but before that it drivers were able to use it at night.

But it looks like a lot of people in Croydon are being caught out on the road.

Between March 2018-2019 21,999 people were issued penalty charge notices (PCNs).

Each fine costs £65 if paid within 14 days, and £130 after that. This means that Croydon Council has made at least £1m from the fines. 

One driver, Bernard Mickleburgh, thinks the high number of fines shows that signage on the street is “not fit for purpose”.

After getting caught out on the road himself in February he is taking his case to the traffic adjudicator.

He says he has heard of others having their fines from the ‘cash cow’ road overturned and hopes the same will be the case for him.

The 77-year-old said: “It is not the money for me, the thought of 22,000 people being fined angers me terribly – I want to stop the next 22,000.

“The council maintains the signage is legal and will not be changed, yet thousands of motorists clearly have not – or will not – see the warning signs due to there size and positioning.

“The signs maybe legal but the council has a moral and civil duty to the Croydon residents to put right a wrong.”

But the council says there are signs at either end of the road warning drivers against using it.

In response to another FOI, Croydon Council revealed that in a two month period, between December 12, 2018 and February 4, 2019 121 drivers took their Surrey Street fines to tribunal.

Of the 121 appeals, 25 were upheld and therefore cancelled.

A Croydon Council spokesman said: “Surrey Street is pedestrianised with signs advising drivers of the scheme at both ends of the road.

“Drivers who do not obey the restriction can still receive a 50% discount if they pay the fine within a fortnight.

“Any surplus money from parking enforcement in Croydon is spent on funding the Freedom Pass, a travel scheme for the over-60s in London.”