A trap for motorists?

Published: 06 August, 2010

• FOLLOWING your report (Top solicitor to take on scourge of CCTV camera, July 30) I have requested a full report from Islington Council, who I believe are sailing very close to the wind.

I paid two Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) due to what I believe was their threatening nature and escalating costs if I did not do so. The council seem to think that payment is acceptance of the situation but that is certainly not the case.

The controversy surrounds PCNs issued from CCTV camera 31 in Riversdale Road, N5 just off the junction with Green Lanes while my car was being driven in London.

The driver, unfamiliar with the area and using sat nav, turned into Riversdale Road from Green Lanes and was immediately faced with a situation where he believed collision with bollards was inevitable had he taken the designated route. So he slowly and cautiously drove through the central gap since stopping for any length of time or attempting to turn would have been dangerous. 

This happened again two days later when the driver suddenly found himself again in the same position. I visited the site on Sunday and in my opinion this is a trap for unfamiliar motorists who are immediately confronted by bollards that do not look negotiable. The signage is very confusing. 

I have obtained from Freedom of Information, Islington, camera records that show 2,389 contraventions (failing to comply with a sign indicating that vehicular traffic must pass to the specified side of the sign in Riversdale Road, N5) since January. 

I am awaiting a response from the council who are looking into the matter and have also requested further information regarding successful appeals from this site. 

My initial representations to the council have been rejected and the grounds of appeal on the Parking And Traffic Appeals Service form are very limited. The service have since advised that payment closes the issue and appeals will not be considered.

DAVID BURR
East Sussex