A Freedom of Information Act request has revealed that Eden Street in Kingston Upon Thames is the third-most lucrative street in Britain, netting Kingston Council an average of £2,661 every day of the year in penalty charges paid by motorists who have fallen foul of the street’s bewildering zones and markings.
In 2015-16, Kingston issued 14,360 penalty charge notices for misuse of Eden Street’s bus lanes, averaging 39.8 drivers per day, the research by BBC England showed. The fine is £130 unless paid within two weeks, in which case it is halved (£65).
Local motorist Katherine MacRae, 43, has been fined numerous times. She told the Courier: “It’s ridiculous. There are so many markings on that road that it’s impossible to keep track of them. Every time you remember one of them, you forget another. I must have given the council around £300 in the last five years. If a month goes by without me getting a notice in the post I begin to wonder if the Post Office is on strike.”
Kingston Council was approached about putting forward a traffic enforcement officer to be interviewed on video about how motorists should treat the area. No-one was available for comment.
For those who share Ms MacRae’s frustration, here is the solution to the puzzle of Eden Street’s road markings, where to look for them and what they mean for unwary motorists. A complete list of Kingston Council’s bus lane traffic cameras is provided at the bottom of this article.
First let’s get you orientated.
Point “A” is the north end of Eden Street, looking south. This graphic (below) tells you what to beware.
Point “B” is to the south, but looking north. This graphic (below) shows how to pass safely through the danger zone.
But Eden Street is not the only peril awaiting the naive motorist in Kingston. The borough has several bus lane monitoring cameras, and although none is as lucrative as that on Eden Street, they can still hit you in the pocket if you don’t pay attention. Here is a complete list, along with the times of operation.
Richmond Road – junction with East Road, Southbound
Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm
Clarence Street – junction with Cromwell Road
All times
Eden Street – junction with Lady Booth Road
All times
London Road – outside No. 150 (westbound)
Monday to Friday, 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 2pm
London Road – junction with Albert Road
Monday to Sunday 7am to 7pm
Cambridge Road – junction with Victoria Road (eastbound)
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm
Cambridge Road – junction with Victoria Road (westbound)
Monday to Friday,7am to 10am
Saturday, 7am to 2pm
Penrhyn Road – outside County Hall (northbound)
Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm
Ewell Road – junction with South Terrace (northbound)
Monday to Saturday, 7am to 10am
Ewell Road – junction with Oakhill Crescent (northbound)
Monday to Saturday, 7am to 10am
Ewell Road – junction with Hollyfield Road (north/soundbound)
Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm
Ewell Road – junction with Red Lion Road (southbound)
Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm
Ewell Road – junction with Elgar Avenue (southbound)
Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm
Ewell Road – junction with Browns Road (southbound)
Monday to Saturday, 4pm to 7pm
Ewell Road – junction with Broomfield Road (northbound)
Monday to Saturday, 4pm to 7pm
