I will leave readers of this forum to reflect on the attitudes of "mean & green".

The benefit would be not having a hideous clutter of signs and ineffective painting on the road. Less cost to ratepayers to install & maintain these & cameras, reduced costs to ratepayers for Guildhall staff to process (ineffectively) these controls. A reduction in controls imposed on citizens without their request or consent. At least people could drive round in circles in freedom. I am old enough to remember when this was a free country. David

In reply to Green&Mean: This thread is all about the stretch of Eden Street running into town between St James Rd and Brook Street. There are no bus stops here except one used by the park-and-ride service which runs a few weeks each year over Christmas & the January sales. David

I wouldn't waste my time! D

I would still like an answer to a very simple question: If buses, taxis, cycles & motorbikes can go down this ?100 yard section of road with impunity, how would it compromise the flow of traffic in Greater London if cars, vans & lorries could do so too? David

Suppose the legal advice is along the lines of: Just go for it- send out £130 demands to all pending cases, get as much cash in as possible, don't spend money on chasing non-payers, but for heaven's sake sort your procedures out. If the appeal period/"discount" is voluntary and PATAS rulings on one case not binding on another, RBK might be able to save face & maximise revenue & take the opportunity to start again. Some people will just pay up through ignorance/intimidation. There are bigger brains than mine on this forum- would it be useful to think through possible responses to different scenarios so that unequivocal and consistent advice can be given to people trapped by this crazy system? D

Reply to Green&Mean's appeal for info updates: I received a notice in June, sought advice from this forum (great-thanks all). Went to Guildhall & saw video. Gave verbal notice of appeal & received verbal assurance from named officer that I couldn't be billed for the double amount just because I had appealed & not paid £60 within ?how many days. I sent written appeal within the 10 days, with photos of location (1st week July?). Shortly after saw reference in Surrey Comet. Have heard nothing since. D

And for a year near that bay there has been a huge sign giving "advance warning" of roadworks there from November 2010........

Many thanks for posting this. At last some common sense from officialdom. I appealed against my fine for a "contravention" in June seemingly on same grounds as this case & have heard nothing from RBK for several weeks- presumably waiting outcome of this. The adjudicator seems to be saying, between the lines, "If you want this road to be no entry at this point for cars & lorries, just put up a simple sign which says this." My grief is compounded by the fact I'm a ratepayer in this Borough & officials are wasting my money on getting these things wrong, then more by going thru all the processes which flow from this. D

Thanks, but this was a NO right turn sign, which was facing me at the crossroads, when heading west on Eden St. It's gone now, but I'm wondering if it was intended to face northbound traffic on St James Rd & got turned round. D

Thanks. Yes I have acted within the timeframe. Yes I have visited the town hall & seen the video- which only seems to show me crossing the crossroads- but presumably they have more footage which they didn't show me. It's the No Right Turn sign which bugs me because if it hadn't been for that I would have had no problem. Does anyone with previous knowledge of the Council's squirming on this "bus lane" issue have any knowledge of this sign at the top of St James Rd to stop traffic turning onto the Eden St bus zone? D

I have received a bill in the post for entering this "bus lane" - at 18 30 on Sat 11 June. As St James Rd was closed northbound for roadworks, I followed yellow diversion signs from Wheatfield Way via Ashdown Rd & Eden St, wanting to get to All Saints Church via Union St. There was a "No right Turn" sign on the lamp post at the Eden St/Union St crosssroads so I carried on to the next roundabout, turned round & came back. I was completely flummoxed to find then a "No left turn" sign facing me & in my confusion entered this so-called bus lane. I feel completely "had" by Kingston Council as there should be red-ringed prohibitory signs, not a blue sign, which only means that buses MUST follow that route. When I checked on site yesterday the "No right turn" sign has disappeared, but there are marks on the post where it was. Was it supposed to face northbound traffic on St James Rd? The PCN refers to the Road Traffic At 1984 & London Local Authorities Act 1996 & the code for the alleged offence is 34J. Does anyone have any advice for me?