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Hundreds of drivers are being caught by “a naked street parking con” after nearly a mile of double yellow lines were removed in central London.

The lines on the streets around the British Museum have been replaced by small signs saying restricted zone and metal studs marking loading bays as part of efforts to reduce street clutter.

But scores of motorists have received tickets after parking in the zone but failing to notice that the restrictions still apply. A parking attendant today said the number of tickets issued had soared since the lines were removed.

The warden, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “People just don’t realise they’re in a restricted zone. They removed the yellow lines, which means if people stop or park on what they deem the carriageway then it’s an instant ticket.

“There are no bay markings either, just studs, and nothing to say what’s the road and what’s the pavement.

“Camden council is definitely making more money from it. What they’ve done is wrong, but their excuse is it makes the area look nice.”

The council said reducing visual clutter around streets including Russell Square, Malet Street and Montague Place “enhanced the public realm”.

The £5 million project also included extra seating, more pedestrian crossings and a new “boulevard” in Malet Street, and was funded by the council, Transport for London and the British Museum. But opponents have branded it a “naked street parking con”. Campaigner Paul Pearson, of penalty-

chargenotice.co.uk, said: “Restricted zones are the latest wheeze because they remove all road markings and replace it with a sign.

“It’s another way of tricking motorists because they see no bays, then they park and the next thing they know there’s a £130 ticket in the post.

“The number of tickets Camden issues is falling and they need to make up revenue, and an easy way to do this is to introduce new types of confusing restrictions.” It comes days after Camden was revealed as running the highest-earning street in London. Southampton Row, which adjoins Russell Square, last year earned the council £1.2 million.

A council spokeswoman said: “The removal of yellow lines and lines marking out parking bays is part of significant public realm and transport improvements in Bloomsbury. Yellow lines are removed to reduce visual clutter and to reduce the visual segregation of the carriageway and footway.”

Your say: ‘it’s just deceitful’

Gary Hutchinson, 52, cab driver:

“It’s a complete joke, all based on creating more revenue for the council. There should be clear signs and without them it’s just a deceitful ploy.

"We should be showcasing London right now, and instead the council is stooping to this to trap naïve tourists.”

Janet Sinisterra, 32, language student at Prince’s College:

“I’m fed up with this kind of action from the council. For people desperately searching for a parking spot, this is just deceptive by them.”

Peter Darin, 28, rope access technician:

“Simply not an acceptable thing to do, it’s misleading and deceitful. This is just another trick of the council’s trade.

"They’re really acting like they’re the good guys and enforcing laws that no one can see are there.”