‘Cash cow’ outrage at council’s £6m road fine bonanza from low-traffic neighbourhoods scheme
‘Cash cow’ outcry over council’s £6m fine bonanza from low-traffic neighborhood scheme
- A Labour-run authority has been accused of using motorists as ‘cash cows’
- More than 300 LTNs have been set up or are pending in the UK
A Labour-led authority has been accused of using motorists as ‘cash cows’ during the cost-of-living crisis by bringing in low-traffic neighbourhoods.
Haringey Council could earn an eye-watering £6.1 million in fines in four months from two schemes set up in August.
Drivers in the St Ann’s area of north London were fined 32,620 on November 22 after being caught by cameras driving seven restricted roads.
The council has so far received £949,390 from these PCNs, but if the £130 fines are paid in full, it would pocket more than £4.2 million. Drivers in Bounds Green, where there are ten limited-access roads, were affected with 14,758 PCNs at the end of November, according to freedom of information requests.
A Labour-led authority has been accused of using motorists as ‘cash cows’ during the cost-of-living crisis by pulling into low-traffic neighborhoods
Haringey Council could earn an eye-watering £6.1 million in fines in four months from two schemes set up in August
The authority has received £541,905 so far, but if paid in full would see more than £1.9m flowing into its coffers.
Fines are cut in half if drivers pay within two weeks, but if the fee is not paid on time the cost rises to £195.
Low-traffic neighborhoods (LTNs) have been introduced on a trial basis for up to 18 months to make residential streets quieter.
But local residents complain that they have led to huge increases in traffic and longer travel times.
Planter barriers form an LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhood), a road closure by Southwark Council that prevents motorists from accessing the intersection of Carlton Avenue and Dulwich Village. Restrictions also prevent traffic from continuing during the morning and afternoon rush hours in the borough of Southwark, on November 1, 2022, in London, England
More than 300 LTNs have been set up or are pending in the UK
Delay for speeding motorists
Thousands of drivers caught speeding in December could avoid fines or points due to postal strike delays, a leading auto lawyer warned.
Some letters took weeks to be delivered during the Royal Mail strikes last month – and if speeders can prove they have not received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days of their alleged offences, their cases are likely to be dismissed.
Nick Freeman, known as ‘Mr Loophole’ for helping celebrity clients like David Beckham escape driving bans, told the Telegraph that ‘the system needs an urgent change’ so that speeding NIPs can be sent by text and email are sent.
Nick Freeman, known as ‘Mr Loophole’ for helping celebrity clients such as David Beckham escape driving bans, told the Telegraph that ‘the system needs an urgent change’ so that speeding NIPs can be sent by text and email
Ivy Kalli, 62, who lives on the St Ann’s schedule, got 27 PCNs for driving on her own way.
The mobile hairdresser said, “I’m allowed in and out, but I got a warning, so I stopped driving on the road.”
But when she returned from holiday on October 17, there were 27 letters from the council on her mat demanding nearly £4,000 in fines.
“I panicked,” Miss Kalli said. “I struggle with arthritis and I struggled to take my tablets, I was so stressed.
“I got rattled and couldn’t sleep with this over my head.” After complaints, her fines were withdrawn.
Another hard-hit resident Tracey Elwood, 64, said: ‘It’s not fair that the roads behind us are quiet and there are no cars when our road is packed from 7am to 8pm. They sacrifice us while the others are having a good time.
“I can’t go anywhere because I’ve been stuck in traffic for half an hour before I’m out of the neighborhood.”
Howard Cox, founder of campaign group FairFuelUK, said: ‘Local authorities see honest taxpayers and sole proprietors as pure cash cows.’
He called for control of roads to be taken away from city councils, saying they had “no idea”.
Haringey residents were also angered by leaked emails showing the council was proposing to use revenue from LTNs and other fines to close a budget gap.
These made up 88 per cent of the £6.49 million savings forecast for 2023/24.
More than 300 LTNs have been set up or are pending in the UK.
A Haringey Council spokesman said it was engaged with residents and would not hesitate to make changes to ‘get this right’.
‘I panicked and couldn’t sleep’
.