'Cash cow' junctions in Kingston that raked in 450,000 in just eight months ruled 'legally compliant'

"Two controversial yellow box junctions in south London that raked in more than 450,000 in just eight months have been ruled legally compliant. Kingston Council is not set to make any changes to the layout or enforcement of the junctions on Kingston Road, in New Malden, despite concerns from residents and businesses that they operate as a cash cow. Council officers investigated the junctions after three councillors requested a special meeting to discuss concerns they had raised."

"The yellow boxes on Kingston Road, at its junctions with Elm Road and Westbury Road, have been operating since at least 2015. Camera enforcement of the yellow box junctions began in 2020. This means drivers who stop in the yellow grid when their exit is not clear, and they are not waiting to turn right, are automatically slapped with a fine of 160. The fine is slashed to 80 if it is paid in 14 days."

"Independent councillors James Giles, Yvonne Tracey and Kamala Kugan requested a meeting after data from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed the authority dished out 6,568 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to drivers who had stopped in the yellow box junctions from January to August last year. This generated roughly 451,405, which they said equated to around 2,000 per day."

6,568 penalty charge notices were issued for stopping in two yellow box junctions on Kingston Road from January to August, generating roughly £451,405. Council officers investigated the junctions after three independent councillors requested a special meeting about resident and business concerns. Officers found the layout and enforcement to be legally compliant and proportionate and recommended maintaining the current layout. Officers also recommended providing separate enforcement data for each junction to improve transparency. A New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee will vote on the recommendations on January 22. The boxes have operated since at least 2015, with camera enforcement since 2020.

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