Greenwich Council Fined £741k at Plumstead Yellow Box

Greenwich Council has generated £741,461 from fines issued at a yellow box junction in Plumstead since September 2021. The authority issued 11,950 penalty charge notices at the intersection of Plumstead High Street and Garibaldi Street during this period.

This total emerged after a motorist successfully appealed her £160 fine. An independent adjudicator ruled that a section of the yellow box marking was not necessary and that the junction was not substantially compliant with legislative procedures. The motorist had been fined for stopping in the box for three seconds.

Campaigner's Criticism

Sam Wright, a traffic campaigner known as the ‘Yellow Box Guru’, assisted the motorist with her appeal. He stated that the yellow box junction is being maintained for financial gain rather than for traffic management purposes. Mr Wright, who previously worked as a traffic engineer for Transport for London, believes that yellow boxes should be ethically designed and enforced, and that councils should not issue tickets for minor infringements.

He suggested that councils should introduce a minimum waiting time of five to ten seconds before issuing a charge. Mr Wright described the enforcement at the Plumstead junction as overzealous and labelled it a 'cash generator'.

Council's Defence

Greenwich Council defended the necessity of the yellow box, stating that it is essential for keeping the carriageway clear and enabling emergency services to respond to incidents without delay. Cllr Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Greenwich’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets, confirmed that revenue is not a consideration for the council. He noted that the fire service has repeatedly contacted the council about the importance of keeping junctions along this road unobstructed.

Cllr O’Byrne Mulligan acknowledged the specific case that was overturned, stating that while the council disagreed with the tribunal’s reasoning, it chose not to contest the appeal. He added that the yellow box junction has been upheld by numerous adjudicators and that the council takes feedback on the design and operation of such junctions seriously. The council stated it will review locations where evidence suggests changes may be needed, prioritising safety and effective traffic flow, particularly for emergency services.