by Dan Bloom

Chatham bus station will be dug up again in a bid to halt thousands of people driving through it by mistake.

Medway Council is set to carry out the first major works at the terminal since last year, when zebra crossings were painted on following claims it was dangerous.

Since then drivers have been banned but more than 16,000 have been caught passing through, netting the council about £500,000 in fines.

Some of that cash will now pay for road narrowing in Medway Street and a mini-roundabout, which will give people a clearer way to turn around.

Currently drivers can either turn left into a bus lane, or right - into another bus lane.

A council spokesman insisted the move was just to help people but campaigners, who complain the signs are not good enough, claimed it as a victory.

Steve Baker, a member of the anti-fines group NoToMob, said: "Quite frankly the council’s line is laughable. They know they have got something wrong but they won’t admit to it.

"We’re still going to be taking this to the district auditor next year because the council has gained illegally-derived income."

Peter Willson, 75, won an appeal which ruled the signs in Waterfront Way were inadequate - which the council may yet challenge in the High Court.

Mr Willson said: "It looks as if at long last with all my hard campaigning they know there’s a serious fault and are prepared to do something about it.

"I want everybody who has been fined to be refunded. I feel very, very strongly about this."

The council has repeatedly said there is no need to refund motorists.

And thousands more could still be fined - as the works will only take place next year.

A spokesman said: "The council will narrow the road in Medway Street to improve the environment for pedestrians and will be putting in a mini roundabout so there is a better position for cars to turn around if they have mistakenly driven to that point.

"Obviously they can turn around at the moment but the roundabout would also help them and contribue to our aim of making the bus station safe.

"This is not, and there is not, an alteration to signage there as this is not needed."