Clair Allison: "I would advise drivers affected to seek legal advice." 3/3/5WILTSHIRE Constabulary could be facing a compensation bill of more than £1m for thousands of motorists unlawfully accused of speeding on the A303.

Wiltshire and Swindon safety camera partnership is writing to 2,467 drivers punished for breaking a temporary 40mph limit at Folly Bottom between September 2003 and January 2004, telling them they are entitled to a refund and their licence points rescinded.

But the partnership has again come under fire for its actions over the fiasco, this time for trying to get away without fully compensating drivers, and is now facing the prospect of an independent investigation.

Clair Allison, of Amesbury, whose legal challenge prompted the decision that the penalties were incorrectly imposed, believes this does not go far enough.

"What about the other 3,000 drivers caught after that?" she said. "I would advise anyone affected to seek legal advice.

"If people go to them the safety camera partnership, they will just get their £60 back and the points taken off. But every one of them will have incurred higher insurance costs and some will have lost licences and livelihoods. There should be compensation for that."

The Folly Bottom speed restriction was flawed because signs were either not put up properly or were not appropriately documented.

The Crown Prosecution Service withdrew 50 prosecutions because it could not prove the new limit was correctly signposted.

Two cases were also dropped against drivers committing alleged offences further along the A303, at Wylye, which could lead to more claims.

Ms Allison is so incensed by Wiltshire Constabulary's actions that she is planning to report it to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

But while some place the final compensation bill in seven figures, the safety camera partnership's manager, David Frampton, insists the total refunded will be much less.

"A figure of £250 per case has been bandied around but this is not accurate," he said. "We are expecting to pay out £148,020. We are confident that, from January 14, 2004, the contractors, Conemasters, can now provide evidence that the signs were checked every two hours when they were in place."

This is despite half of the cases dropped alongside Ms Allison's relating to offences alleged to have taken place after that date.

"My advice is to contact us direct. There is no need for people to seek legal advice and incur extra expense," said Mr Frampton. "We will deal with every case on its individual merits regarding compensation."

Mr Frampton added that, despite the refunds, he was satisfied the speed limit had worked.

"It's not about revenue, it's about saving lives," he said. "The Highways Agency asked us here because, on average, 37 workmen are killed nationally every year at roadworks on the carriageway. I still view this operation as a certain success because no one was killed or seriously injured, and that is what is important."

A statement on the partnership's website says anyone charged with speeding at Folly Bottom between May 2003 and August 2004 can write to Wiltshire Police Safety Camera Unit, PO Box 1346, Chippenham, SN15 3XZ.