News Motorists to be slapped with £130 fine as new traffic rules come into force impacting thousands

Hemma Visavadia

Guest Reporter
Drivers have been warned about new traffic enforcement which will see rule breakers fined £130 across a London borough.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has started issuing penalties to drivers who breach the new low-traffic neighbourhood restrictions.



The fines come following an extended grace period which saw drivers issued warnings rather than penalties.

However, from January 2 drivers can be hit with £130 penalties - reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days if caught driving through LTNs without a valid exemption permits.

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Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) sign in Cowley near Oxford.


The scheme, which launched on November 27, aims to tackle heavy traffic and antisocial behaviour by drivers in streets east and west of Greenwich Park.

Buses, black taxis and minicabs - including Uber - are automatically exempt from the restrictions, which operate on weekdays between 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm.

Blue Badge holders who live in the borough must apply for an exemption permit to use the restricted routes.

The council is also accepting exemption applications from organisations holding Blue Badges and residents with special circumstances, such as those with chronic health conditions where longer car journeys could cause additional distress.



All streets remain accessible by vehicle, though some through routes are no longer permitted during the restricted hours.

Cyclists and pedestrians can continue to use all routes as normal. But signs warning drivers about the restrictions have caused confusion, with some having tape applied to cover Blue Badge holder symbols while others remain unchanged.

Some signs east of Greenwich Park have been crudely taped over to remove the wheelchair symbol, while those wests of the park still display it.

A council spokesperson said: "Following some concerns which were raised regarding the advisory signage, we have taken the approach to change the format to a more easy-to-read style."



Several signs that previously warned drivers when turning into affected streets have been removed entirely, leaving only tall poles behind.

The council said it will continue to review and improve signage where required. The restrictions affect multiple streets across both sides of Greenwich Park.

In west Greenwich, camera-enforced filters are in place on Crooms Hill at its junction with Burney Street, along Royal Hill at several points, and at Circus Street.

East of the park, restrictions include bus gates on Westcombe Hill and Vanbrugh Hill, plus camera-enforced filters on Halstow Road, Maze Hill, St Johns Park and Langton Way. A no-entry restriction is also in place on Lindsell Street at its junction with Greenwich South Street.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:


LTN map


The council has published maps showing how to access affected roads during restricted hours and has also pledged to monitor traffic impacts in neighbouring areas during the 18-month trial period.

But concerns have already emerged about increased traffic in Charlton, with reports of heavier congestion on Charlton Church Lane during morning hours.

A significant incident occurred on December 12 when an M25 closure led to Eastcombe Avenue becoming blocked with traffic and dangerous driving in nearby side streets.

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