Council penalty charges are a "cash cow"
"Readers are well aware of Merton council’s heavy handed approach to parking enforcement and traffic management. Now they are issuing penalty charge notices to motorists attempting to turn right from Dorset Road into Kingston Road in Merton park if they stop in the yellow box junction whilst traffic is stationery. This is contrary to Transport for London (TfL) guidance that “motorists can stop in a yellow box junction if they want to turn right and are stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic”.
"I have asked Merton council for a legal ruling on this as I believe many local motorists may be entitled to compensation. Residents will be shocked to learn that in just 9 weeks to the 15 July 2012, Merton Council made a whopping £32,175 in fines from this junction by issuing 769 Penalty Charge Notices.
"Merton’s Conservative Opposition continues to campaign against Labour's anti-car administration, and demands they fine motorists fairly, not milk them for every penny. Labour must stop using parking and traffic enforcement as a cash cow."
Councillor Richard Hilton
Conservative Environment and Transport Spokesman
August 24, 2012