The Freedom of Information has uncovered road where drivers hit most with PCNs for parking or traffic violations
The Tunbridge Wells street earning council highest income from traffic or parking violations(Image: KentLive)
The street in Tunbridge Wells where the most income is earned for council coffers from traffic or parking violations has been revealed. Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) earned Tunbridge Wells Borough Council a whopping £2,399,490 during the past financial year.
Across the borough during the same period, 68,308 PCNs, were issued between April 2024 and March 31,. 2025. A Freedom of Information request submitted to the council, was answered on January 7.
The council was asked “which single street in your council area has produced the highest income from traffic or parking violates” during that time. And the answer is unlikely to surprise many who live or work in Tunbridge Wells, as it is the town’s highly controversial Mount Pleasant bus lane.
This section of town centre highway saw 28,930 PCNs issued, generating £991,815 income for the council. The road is part of the main drag through the town centre, linking the lower and upper sections of the town, High Street and Grosvenor Road.
The bus lane allows only buses between 9am and 6pm and was introduced in 2020 by the council as part of public realm improvements, which has also seen wider pavements, steps linking Mount Pleasant Road and Civic Way, more places to sit, and greater prominence to the War Memorial.
It was the second phase of making the town quieter, less polluted, safer and more attractive, and extended the traffic ban to the four-way traffic lights in front of the Town Hall.
But the bus lanes, which have been criticised by some drivers, and residents within the restricted area, hit problems as soon as they were introduced. People said the signs were confusing or not visible; the layout changes meant drivers having to turn-around in Monson Road; and there were legal issues with enforcement.
There was a 1,085-signature petition which called for, unsuccessfully it turned out, the scrapping of the ‘bus gateway’ and refunding drivers the cost of their PCNs.
As KentLive reported in July last year, the scheme was tweaked, which would allow all traffic leaving York, Dudley and Newton Roads – which had been one way in the direction of Mount Pleasant Road – to turn into Monson Road, without contravening the restriction. And traffic would not be able to exit Monson Road toward Mount Pleasant Road. “Signage is proposed for vehicles prior to entering Monson Road to inform them that this action will result in a contravention of Moving Traffic Enforcement,” said Kent County Council.
It also include the addition of more enforcement cameras, with five on columns, along with more signage.
As KentLive reported in October 2025, there had been scant engagement with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council over the traffic ban when it carried out a survey, with only 11 per cent of people living near the ban zone responding.
We also reported in June 2022, how the signage and CCTV was there but drivers were not being fined. This was because Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council were reviewing new legislation and its impact on bus lane contraventions.
Drivers had said the signs were not clear enough to warn drivers of the restrictions. The main aim of cutting traffic through the spine of the town centre was to encourage people to walk, cycle and spend more time there.
KentLive has invited the borough council to comment.
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