THOUSANDS of motoring fines issued at one of Scotland’s most lucrative traffic cameras should be waived after new signs resulted in a dramatic cut in the number of contraventions, according to campaigners.

The camera in Glassford Street, Glasgow produced so many tickets to motorists who strayed into its bus lane that it brought in £1.2 million in its first year. But official data reveals that from last year the number of tickets was cut to just 21 after new warning signs were installed.

The device installed in 2012 and which four years ago was one of 11 in and around the city centre had been responsible for one in four £60 fines given to errant motorists.

Drivers, angry about the fines, said they had been caught out due to inadequate signage, meaning they inadvertently turned from the NCP car park into the bus lane, and helped pave the way for better signs.

Glasgow port chaplain, John Burleigh has tried in vain for nearly five years to have a parking ticket overturned – despite his suggestions for “proper” signs appearing to have been taken on board by Glasgow City Council.

Glassford Street is a one-way system with an oncoming bus lane running north from Argyle Street to Ingram Street. The camera accounted for 44,657, or 24 per cent, of all the fines issued four years ago.

This was almost 20,000 more fines than the second most-abused bus lane, in Cathedral Street, which resulted in 25,298 penalties over the same period.

Mr Burleigh said: “I can’t believe this situation. The council has allowed all these, and yet there were no alarm bells ringing something might be wrong. It would be nice gesture to waive fines in the light that my case highlighted the inadequate signage and now the signage is improved and effective.”

He had turned right from the NCP multi-storey car park in Glassford Street into the bus lane in error, saying he saw no warning signs. He did a U-turn after realising it was a bus lane to get out, but still got caught. Mr Burleigh even sent the council diagrams of where warning signs should be so others like him could not be caught out. Soon new signage was installed, and he believes it was a result of his suggestions.

A subsequent survey carried out by NCP in November 2015 during peak hours found that of around 200 vehicles exiting the car park between 5pm and 6.30pm over one week, all turned left as they were supposed to, appearing to see the new signs.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “Fines across the city have dropped as drivers are more aware now than ever before about bus lanes restrictions and subsequent fines for entering the lanes.”