Drivers have been hit with millions of pounds worth of fines by a council strictly enforcing a closed road in a low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) over just four years.
asserted
Drivers → hit → years
Haringey Council's own figures show that a staggering 6,800 motorists were caught out in just one month in 2022 by traffic cameras in the St Ann's LTN in north London.
asserted
motorists → show → London
Roads have been shut off to out-of-borough traffic with big planters and signs since August 2022.
asserted
Roads → shut → August
A whopping 56,260 drivers were caught entering without permission until October 2026, according to figures released from the council in a freedom of information (FOI) request.
uncertain
drivers → catch → request
The full fine for the infraction is £160, meaning it could have raised more than £9million in that time.
uncertain
it → mean → time
Early payment grants a 50 per cent reduction, meaning the council could have raised at least £4.5million in only four years from the road.
uncertain
council → grant → road
The council disputes these figures, however, saying the real amount is 'about £2million'.
asserted
amount → dispute → figures
They added that the introduction for the LTN was to 'encourage walking, cycling, and wheeling in a safer, cleaner environment'.
asserted
introduction → add → environment
But locals have slammed it as a 'rip-off'.
asserted
locals → slam → off
More than 56,000 drivers have been caught out at St Ann's LTN, totalling millions of pounds worth of fines in just four years (file photo)
asserted
drivers → catch → years
Nearly 7,000 drivers were fined for driving through La Rose Lane - formerly Black Boy Lane - without permission in November 2022 alone
Anne Quinn used to live in the area and said she was fined over and over again.
asserted
she → fin → area
She said she would challenge her penalty-charge notices (PCNs).
asserted
she → say → notices
She said: 'When I first saw the planters I was distracted, and thought they were connected to some kind of event in Chestnut Park.
asserted
they → say → Park
I submitted the freedom-of-information request to see how many other people were missing the road-closure signs.
asserted
people → submit → signs
'The data show the council's signs are not clear.
asserted
signs → show → ?
I think they are ripping people off.
asserted
they → think → people
Fines are handed out from camera traps at each end of La Rose Lane - formerly Black Boy Lane.
asserted
Fines → hand → Lane
In November 2022 alone, 3,704 fines were issued at one end, with another 3,117 at the other.
asserted
fines → issue → other
The council was unable to say how many PCNs had been successfully challenged or later appealed at a tribunal.
asserted
PCNs → say → tribunal
The worst month for drivers to be fined for driving down La Rose Lane was May, figures showed.
uncertain
figures → fin → Lane
A spokesperson for the local authority explained in Ms Quinn's FOI request that the planters had been 'installed as a fast, cost-effective temporary way to create modal filters'.
asserted
planters → explain → filters
The intent is to allow vehicles with permission through - like eligible buses, bikes and mobility scooters.
But the council's actions in creating the LTN have caused a risk of 'head-on type collisions' as motorists unaware of the traffic measures did U-turns to avoid it, a road safety audit commissioned by the council in 2022 revealed.
asserted
audit → allow → 2022
Drivers were also seen doing 'unsafe manoeuvres and sudden breaking [sic]'.
asserted
Drivers → see → [
Some lorries and buses were also seen being forced to 'mount the footway or overrun the centre line'.
asserted
lorries → see → line
Engineers in the audit recommended that the LTN be revisited to see whether the problems could be fixed.
uncertain
problems → recommend → audit
The council disputed the £9million figure as the amount raised from fines since the introduction of the LTN, saying that it had received 'about £2million' instead.
asserted
it → dispute → 2million
A spokesperson said: 'The figures quoted are wholly inaccurate, as motorists can choose to pay the PCN at a reduced 50 per cent rate, penalty charges are higher than when the scheme was introduced, and drivers may challenge a fine.'
uncertain
drivers → say → fine
They added: 'We introduced our low-traffic neighbourhoods so that the whole community can benefit from cleaner air and safer streets.
'
asserted
community → add → air
The LTN filters are clearly signposted on both sides of the road and the planters themselves.
asserted
filters → signpost → road
We appreciate that driving is a necessity for some; that's why we have exemptions in place covering more than 15,000 people, including blue-badge holders.
asserted
we → appreciate → holders
La Rose Lane changed its name from Black Boy Lane in 2023 following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
asserted
Lane → change → Floyd
It takes its name from black poet John La Rose.
asserted
It → take → Rose
One of Croydon's six Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, which have all now been withdrawn after a High Court ruling
Other LTNs in London have been found to rack up similarly huge amounts in fines.
asserted
LTNs → withdraw → fines
Croydon Council raked in more than £13million in fines across six LTNs in under three years from November 2023 to February 2026 - averaging about £300,000 a month.
asserted
Council → rake → 300,000
The situation got so bad that the High Court had to step in, which deemed the traffic measures unlawful and said they were in place mainly to make money.
asserted
they → get → money
The council quickly scrapped the six LTNs in question, but data from August this year showed they had refunded just four per cent of the millions it took from drivers in fines.
asserted
it → scrap → fines
Just £520,951 had been sent back to fined motorists.
asserted
520,951 → send → motorists
The Aporia
