London council fines motorists millions for using LTN road more than 56,000 times in four years

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.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.Roads have been shut off to out-of-borough traffic with big planters and signs since August 2022.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.The full fine for the infraction is £160, meaning it could have raised more than £9million in that 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.The council disputes these figures, however, saying the real amount is 'about £2million'. They added that the introduction for the LTN was to 'encourage walking, cycling, and wheeling in a safer, cleaner environment'.But locals have slammed it as a 'rip-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) Nearly 7,000 drivers were fined for driving through La Rose Lane - formerly Black Boy Lane - without permission in November 2022 aloneAnne Quinn used to live in the area and said she was fined over and over again. She said she would challenge her penalty-charge notices (PCNs).She said: 'When I first saw the planters I was distracted, and thought they were connected to some kind of event in Chestnut Park.'I submitted the freedom-of-information request to see how many other people were missing the road-closure signs.'The data show the council's signs are not clear. I think they are ripping people off.'Fines are handed out from camera traps at each end of La Rose Lane - formerly Black Boy Lane. In November 2022 alone, 3,704 fines were issued at one end, with another 3,117 at the other.The council was unable to say how many PCNs had been successfully challenged or later appealed at a tribunal.The worst month for drivers to be fined for driving down La Rose Lane was May, figures showed. 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'.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.Drivers were also seen doing 'unsafe manoeuvres and sudden breaking [sic]'. Some lorries and buses were also seen being forced to 'mount the footway or overrun the centre line'.Engineers in the audit recommended that the LTN be revisited to see whether the problems could be fixed.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.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.' They added: 'We introduced our low-traffic neighbourhoods so that the whole community can benefit from cleaner air and safer streets.'The LTN filters are clearly signposted on both sides of the road and the planters themselves.'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.'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. It takes its name from black poet John La Rose. One of Croydon's six Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, which have all now been withdrawn after a High Court rulingOther LTNs in London have been found to rack up similarly huge amounts in 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.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.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.Just £520,951 had been sent back to fined motorists.