I’ve been fined 12 times over new road rules in our neighbourhood – the greedy council is just trying to take our money
A DRIVER has been fined 12 times over new road rules in her new neighbourhood.
Violet Dobre, 47, said the penalties are “disgusting” while other residents said the scheme has caused more chaotic congestion.
Haringey Council in North London installed low traffic neighbourhoods to reduce traffic and pollution and to make the area safer for walkers and cyclists.
The authority has collected almost £550,000 from fining people driving through the two areas since they were set up last August.
And locals have been left fuming, with one revealing his commute had been made 45 minutes longer – with others slapped with a string of fines.
And Violet Dobre, 47, the manager of a flower shop in Harringay, said she had been left fuming by the scheme that has seen her fined a dozen times.
Speaking to the Sun Online, she said: “I have got around 12 fines because of the new roads.
“It makes it so hard for me and other businesses because I can’t drive up to the shop and unload.
“We’ve been here for 18 years and I think the roads were fine before. I think it’s disgusting really.”
Controversial LTNs are being introduced since the government increased their spending on making things easier for walkers and cyclists.
Motorists who live on the streets where LTNs are imposed should still be able to access them easily – but not according to those in Haringey.
With LTNs on the rise it means more cycle lanes have appeared as well as wider pavements and planters on roads.
But critics have long blasted them for causing congestion on the roads where traffic diverts to.
We told last year how residents in the area felt boxed in.
Andy Dementiou, from Chingford, east London, and works at Caversham Radio, said the new road layout has added 45 minutes to his commute.
The 67-year-old said: “It’s no good for me. I used to just go through Black Boy Lane which was easy and quick, now I have to go such a long way.
“I used to leave my house at 8am to come to work but now I have to leave at 7:15am at the latest to make it on time.
“I now have to spend longer in my car which is making more pollution.
“The first day they appeared I think was a Monday morning. I didn’t know how long it would take to get to work and that day it took me two hours.”
TRAFFIC PILE UP
A resident, who didn’t want to give her name, said: “It does cut down the noise level and it makes an impact on the traffic in the neighbourhoods which is good.
“But traffic then piles up on the other roads like Green Lanes and you get a big backlog.
“It’s an inconvenience for a lot of contractors as they find it hard to navigate the area. If you are getting a contractor in, you have to warn them in advance.”
“I don’t think it makes a lot of difference, if anything it has made pollution worse in the area where all the traffic builds up.
“I think that there are better solutions. I guess firstly spreading it out a bit so it doesn’t affect just one area would be good.”
Low-traffic neighbourhoods
Low-traffic neighbourhoods are redesigned roads to make them easier for walkers and cyclists.
They minimise traffic from vehicles using the streets as a cut-through to get somewhere else.
They can include bollards to stop motor access altogether, one-way streets or filters just for buses and emergency services to travel through.
Diagonal filters to minimise the need for reversing or banned turns can feature too.
The first LTN appeared in the 1970s but they were turbocharged during Covid lockdowns.
Danny, 31, is from Wood Green, north London, and works in a shop in Haringey, said: “It normally used to take me seven minutes to get to work, now it sometimes takes me an hour.
“So, for me I wish they weren’t there.
“I haven’t been fined because I know where they are but if I was new in the area, I would get fined because it is easy to go into the wrong road.”
He added: “They cause more pollution because all the cars are stuck in one place.”
And William Walsh, 70, is retired and has lived in the area for 40 years and lives on a road that is part of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood.
He said: “It’s quieter on our roads which is nice but then it creates more traffic elsewhere so I don’t think there was much point of doing it.
“I didn’t think it was too bad before so I don’t think it’s needed really.
“I think maybe a one-way system would be a better solution.”
Another local who has lived in the area for over 20 years, who didn’t want to give their name, said: “I don’t know why the roads that were picked were picked. My road is always busy and noisy with more traffic now than before.
“It’s good for people on the quiet roads but what about us who now have more traffic?
“I haven’t had a fine but I have friends who have been fined before. My friend once was fined when coming to see me because she was confused.
“It’s very annoying after living here for so long.”
Karen Matthews, 60, lives in an LTN and works in IT training, said: “I know lots of people are really angry about them but I think they’re a good idea.
“I cycle a lot so the roads are nicer to cycle on.
“I think it’s a good way to get people using other types of travel like public transport and cycling.
“I often see young able people driving a car on their own and I know people have their reasons but I’m sure some people could take public transport or cycle instead.”
Gavin Finch, engineer, Tooting, 42, said: “I don’t drive and don’t live in the area so can’t say too much but I think the idea as a whole is a good incentive to stop people using their cars as much, especially in London.
“And if it lessens pollution then that’s great. The government has to do something so it is worth a try.”
Ankita Parks, 27, a yoga instructor from Haringey, added: “I understand the idea and point and what they’re trying to do but I don’t think it is that effective.
“The same amount of cars seem to be on the road but just all crammed into the same place.
“Getting anywhere now is a bit of a nightmare. It just takes so much longer.”
A Haringey Council spokesman said it was engaging with residents and would not hesitate to make changes to “get this right”.