Drivers hit with 11,000 fines on single north London road in one year

A London council has been accused of “deliberately misleading” motorists after one road in north London was the scene of over 11,000 fines in a year.

Islington Council issued 11,258 penalty charge notices (PCNs) on Benwell Road between January 2025 and January 2026 - an average of more than 30 per day - according to a Freedom of Information response.

The borough issues around 400,000 PCNs annually, one of the highest rates in the country, The Times reports.

Joel Meadows, 53, was fined after turning down Benwell Road in January.

He appealed on the basis of poor signage and lack of warning, but this was rejected in May, and the £80 fine has risen to £329 after a prolonged dispute.

He said that he has now written to the traffic enforcement authorities to further challenge the payment and is awaiting a decision.

Mr Meadows told The Times: “Are there 11,000 people being stupid?

“I feel that this whole road, the way it’s labelled, is deliberately misleading. If they’ve caught over 11,000 people over a 12-month period, that strikes me as something incredibly questionable.”

He said that there is no advance warning when entering the road from Drayton Park Road, with drivers only alerted to the LTN restriction around three-quarters of the way down the street.

Cllr Rowena Champion has defended the use of LTNs

Islington Council / LDRS

Mr Meadows added: “At no point does it say that this is part of an LTN zone or a no-entry for cars zone as you enter the road. By the time you see the signage, you’re already on the road.

“I think it’s massively unfair. If people saw the beginning of that road that there was an LTN coming up then people would avoid the road, they wouldn’t drive down it.”

Islington Council awarded a ten-year contract worth up to £90.9 million to Marston Holdings in May last year, to manage parking enforcement, cashless parking and related services.

Critics of LTNs say that they routinely confuse drivers with unclear signage or poorly placed planters.

Islington Council has previously maintained that its signage on Benwell Road is fully compliant, with officials stating that three circular “no motor vehicle” signs, along with permit exemptions and a camera warning, are clearly displayed at the exact point of the restriction.

It said that it had no plans to change the signage on the road, and that although more than 11,000 PCNs were issued between January 2025 and January 2026, numbers have fallen considerably since, suggesting improved compliance.

Rowena Champion, executive member for environment, air quality and transport on Islington council, said: “We advertise all traffic restrictions clearly and in line with legal requirements, and carefully consider any appeal that is submitted through the statutory process.

“The purpose of these restrictions is to reduce cut-through traffic, create safer streets with lower speeds and lower road danger and ensure Islington’s neighbourhoods are places that residents can safely enjoy. By reducing unnecessary traffic, we are helping to create a healthier and safer borough for everyone.”