New CCTV cameras have been installed at five busy intersections across Kensington and Chelsea — including two on the King’s Road — as the council ramps up enforcement on yellow-box blockers, illegal turns and other traffic offences.

The Royal Borough’s transport and environment lead councillor Johnny Thalassites said the action follows a council ruling last April and that the cameras will help maintain the “flow” of traffic at key sites.

Under the Highway Code, motorists may only enter a yellow box if their exit is clear, or if they are waiting to turn right. But the markings are not preceded by warning signs, meaning drivers often have to react quickly.

The new cameras automatically issue penalty charge notices, a feature likely to prove contentious with motorists and local businesses. Fines for the slightest infringement for getting stuck in a yellow box momentarily are deeply loathed and have caused countless complaints in recent years for similar enforcement action in Fulham and all across London.

Research published last year by the RAC suggested some yellow box junctions were ‘too big’ and risked ‘unnecessary’ fines — though none of the 100 examples cited were in the Borough.

Cllr Thalassites said in a statement: ‘After listening to residents’ concerns about cars blocking busy junctions and flouting banned turns, we ran video surveys to measure the level of contraventions around the borough. Based on the results, we have introduced enforcement cameras at five locations.

‘This will help us enforce against moving traffic that is making illegal turns, blocking yellow boxes or ignoring ‘no entry’ signs. The road layouts are unchanged and these contraventions have always been illegal, but the cameras will help us take action against illegal manoeuvres and keep our roads flowing safely.’

One disgruntled resident said: ‘I don’t recall seeing any consultation notices about these cameras, nor did my local councillor contact me about them. I wonder if all this is to improve traffic flow – or cashflow?’

A “key decision report” was issued by the council last April about the procurement of CCTV cameras. The King’s Road cameras went live in September, which explains why residents started seeing the new enforcement warnings signs at various points. The new camera sites are:

Holland Park Avenue / Addison Road (yellow box; banned right turn)

King’s Road / Lots Road (yellow box)

King’s Road / Beaufort Street (yellow box)

Notting Hill Gate / Linden Gardens (banned right turn)

Brunswick Gardens / Vicarage Gate (no entry)

 

The clampdown follows record figures from May last year, when a single camera on Imperial Road, Fulham, caught 851 motorists in 24 hours — believed to be the highest total recorded by any CCTV device in Britain. A second camera on the same road issued 733 fines in a single day the following month, according to data obtained by The Telegraph via Freedom of Information. This yellow box junction has become known as the “Money Box” because of the revenue it generates for Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Business owners on the King’s Road fear that the growing threat of fines may deter shoppers. The council is planning to install upto 25 new CCTV sites over the next five years in a rollout that would cost fast approaching £2m.