ALMOST 4,000 drivers from outside York were told to pay fines for breaching Lendal Bridge’s traffic rules during the first weeks of the controversial six-month trial.

Figures released by City of York Council under the Freedom of Information Act have shown that about 70 per cent (3,819 drivers) of the 5,456 motorists issued with £60 penalties for crossing the bridge between September 2 and 23 had non-York postcodes.

Claims have been made that the trial, banning cars, vans, lorries and motorbikes between 10.30am and 5pm until the end of February, will turn visitors away from York. The council says it will quicken bus journeys and cut pollution and car use.

Council income from September fines would be £327,360 if all were paid in full, although some will have been successfully appealed against or discounted. Another FOI has shown the bridge’s CCTV cameras did not work in one or both directions on 11 days between September 13 and October 8.

Kate McMullen, head of Visit York, said: “We are very concerned about visitors arriving home from an enjoyable stay to find they have been fined. Visitors cannot easily recognise Lendal Bridge until they are on it.

“If there is the option to give a friendly warning rather than a fine, first time, that would be welcomed since many sat nav systems direct drivers over the bridge. We are pleased city-centre improvements are being considered and this trial is all about creating a better environment for all.

"Getting into and moving people around a heritage city like York will always be challenging – we need to achieve the right balance between having a pleasant city-centre for pedestrians and not creating barriers to access.”

Darren Richardson, the council’s director of city and environmental services, said: “The aim is not to generate revenue, but to reduce traffic going over the bridge and through the city-centre as part of a long-term vision to create an even more attractive and thriving city-cente for everybody.

“Doing nothing is not an option for York.

“The purpose of the trial and consultation is to find out how this scheme affects all traffic movements around the city, but also how we can learn from any issues which might arise along the way so we are in the best position to decide if this scheme could become a more longer-term viable option.”

He said 65 signs warning of the restrictions were in place, with more recently installed and others altered, an online journey planner is at itravelyork.info and Google Maps now takes the trial into account.