A “confusing” parking bay in Stoke Newington Road has proved a goldmine for Transport for London, bringing in more than half a million pounds in fines over two years.
The space generates 33 times as many tickets as another bay nearby – something drivers say is due to unclear signage. It is one of just seven bays in London that functions both as a taxi rank and a loading space for lorries, meaning – unusually – it is off limits even outside peak hours.
And it catches out an average of 11 drivers every day, to the tune of £60 each.
Bridget Burrows has fought for months to get a ticket overturned, with the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators agreeing the signage was inadequate – something TfL still disputes. Bridget said: “It’s a single red line, doesn’t say ‘taxi’ on the floor, and only by going up to a tiny sign at the back of the bay would you know it’s not a normal loading bay.
“The taxi instruction is not even separated from the normal loading bay instruction – despite this being a requirement.
“This an extremely unusual bay, and is causing all sorts of problems for drivers in the area.”
The bay was made “dual-use” in 2014, though TfL only started enforcement in April 2015. Since then, figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show 8,352 fines have been dished out to drivers between 7pm to 7am, when it operates as a taxi rank.
That generated £508,807 for TfL, some of which has been given back to drivers who have argued the markings are unclear and had their fines overturned.
A total of 2,247 people have appealed, with 904 tickets cancelled – though not all of those are due to successful challenges.
“We have a street-food business and we can just about afford the fine,” Bridget added. “It’s not fair on those that can’t.”
TfL said drivers should check signs when parking in London, adding that revenue from fines goes back into maintaining and improving the roads.
Steve Burton, TfL’s director of enforcement, said: “We enforce traffic regulations on the capital’s red routes to reduce delays, keep road users safe and keep London moving.
“Signs detailing the restrictions of bays along Stoke Newington Road have been reviewed and found to be clear and compliant with the law, which will be reported to the adjudicators in respect of future cases.”
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