'Impossible' Islington box junction rakes in £550,000

 
'Impossible': The box junction at Islington Green Picture: Glenn Copus
GLENN COPUS
Chris Stephenson1 November 2012

A box junction in Islington has raked in as much as £550,000 in fines after the phasing of traffic lights was changed, making it “impossible” for drivers to navigate, it was claimed today.

More than 4,000 penalty notices were issued for offences at the junction at Islington Green and Upper Street during the Olympics and Paralympics, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

Over the same period last year, not a single penalty notice was imposed.

The disparity came to light after Victoria Park resident Daren Haysom was hit with four penalty charge notices in a matter of weeks.

Estate agent Mr Haysom, 40, then discovered that colleagues had received about 30 fines at the same location — prompting him to submit the FOI request to Transport for London.

He was shocked to learn that 4,286 notices were handed out during the period from July 27-September 7, making up to £557,180, compared with none the year before.

Even if the £130 notices for entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited were paid within two weeks, cutting the fine to £65, that is still £278,590 collected.

“It was only with my pay cheque last month when I was told by my company that there were several deductions for tickets that I realised there was a problem.

“The phasing of the lights was changed for the Games, making it impossible to comply with the rules of the road as only a couple of cars can get across the box before the lights changed,” he said.

Mr Haysom asked for leniency but was told that due to “increased journey times and congestion in some areas” it was “deemed necessary” to enforce the junction during the Games.

Nick Fairholme, TfL’s director of congestion charging and traffic enforcement, said they would be reviewing why so many penalties were issued at the junction.

“TfL’s approach to enforcement is focused on keeping traffic moving, not unfairly penalising drivers,” he said.

“We managed the road network this summer to ensure that all athletes, spectators and media got to their events on time and London kept moving. We are reviewing why so many PCNs were issued at this particular junction.”

Your say: 'They should explain where the money is going'

Keri Wakeham, 26, Shop assistant, Bow:

“That’s such a leap it seems particularly unfair. I think it was really hard for drivers during the Olympics to know which lane to be in, or what the rules were. So TfL should explain where that money is going and if any of it is being pumped back into the local area.”

Glen Laverick, 41, Merchandising manager, Leyton: “Everything around the Olympics was designed to squeeze money out of commuters and drivers, from parking permits and restrictions to fines. It’s a sneaky way to get money out of people.”

Kevin Yelland, 46 Stallholder, Muswell Hill:

“In fairness it would have been impossible not to get caught out – the traffic was a nightmare, everyone was in a rush, the volume of traffic was ridiculous and there are frustrated drivers behind you honking their horns.”

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