Jesmond residents have had conflicting results when applying for refunds for a controversial bus lane scheme in Newcastle.

Earlier this year a dispute arose between Newcastle City councillors after it emerged the council has only paid back around 10% of those eligible for refunds for the contentious John Dobson street bus lane camera.

The camera, in the centre of Newcastle, was incorrectly giving tickets for those caught in a bus lane. In August, the council said residents who received a penalty should apply for a refund.

This came after a prolonged process in which the Traffic Penalty Tribunal upheld a ruling that the signage did not provide drivers with adequate information about the bus lane.

According to Cllr Colin Ferguson, who represents residents in Gosforth, just “7,000 refunds out of 73,000 fines that are potentially eligible” have been made. He told JesmondLocal this was not a figure the council should be proud of.

Ferguson highlighted several drivers had reported issues in obtaining refunds.

“There were three particular distinct issues that were brought to our attention and they all highlight a slightly different flaw in the system,” Ferguson said.

Jesmond resident Sharon Mccabe told JesmondLocal her husband had been unsuccessful in his attempt to claim a refund.

Because he was not able to remember the registration, the council “wouldn’t look into it,” she said. “They [Newcastle City Council] were in the wrong, so why should we chase around to get our money back”.

However, Cllr Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality, and a South Jesmond councillor, argued the council has done everything they possibly could to assist drivers in getting refunds, and is satisfied with the programme the council have carried out.

Emily Wallace, another Jesmond resident, said despite being caught in the first month of the camera being operational, she was able to get a refund.

Cllr Ainsley told JesmondLocal that the council did not appeal the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, but believes they would have won had they done so. “We stuck within the Department for Transport guidance” and caused “no negligence whatsoever,” she said.

Ainsley also said the council was not required to offer refunds, but decided to pay people back to prevent further time delay on a case that has been ongoing for nearly four years.

Ferguson questioned how well publicised information about the refund programme had been made.

“I do not understand why there could not have been a more proactive approach taken to this,” he said. “I think that it would have been entirely possible to write to everyone who was eligible for a refund.”

Ainsley said the council did not write to people because there could have been a “whole range of changes in people’s circumstances.”

The opportunity to apply for a refund is still available. If you have been affected by this issue and have not yet claimed a refund, you can do so by visiting the Newcastle City Council website.