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| Sign clutter, 9 in 25m |
Today Mr Mustard went to take a look for himself at the no left turn from Tilling Rd into Brentfield Gardens which is one of the least respected banned turns in Barnet. It was, for a few minutes sunny and Mr Mustard was propping up the lamp standard above the 'A' in Ahead and was pleased to see everybody drive straight on along Tilling Road under the underpass. You could sometimes see the queue backed up to the far end of the underpass. One minicab slowed and dived to the left before Mr Mustard could react but as he wasn't wearing a yellow vest and didn't have his whistle on him (a whistle works wonders for stopping cars) and this is a dangerous place to step into the road (there is a crossing point as there is dimpled paving but you really need to cross briskly) he decided to let the driver receive a PCN.
What happened next was that a car coming from the right, a Mercedes saloon, decided to pull out when there wasn't room and take out a blue Honda that was minding its own business and proceeding perfectly steadily in the correct direction. The Merc driver wanted to argue with the lady, who had to climb out of the wrong side of her Honda as she could not open the door, until the lady spotted Mr Mustard looking on and he gave her a wave and a friendly smile and then the errant driver knew the game was up. The Merc was 100% in the wrong and given the availability of a witness Mr Mustard expects that the Merc's insurers will cough up without quibble.
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| not the guilty Merc |
At 3.30pm on 5 March 2017 the road was effectively blocked and so the only escape route entirely on tarmac was the banned left turn. Will the council still issue PCN, probably because the cctv does not cover the blocked section of road? Yes, most definitely.
Do let Mr Mustard know if you make representations on the grounds that the road was blocked and they are rejected.
Yours frugally
Mr Mustard
This seems to be a rather daft restriction and, perhaps, one designed to generate revenue rather than improve traffic flow. The effect of the restriction is to increase the number of vehicles using the elevated roundabout which frequently seems to be log jammed due to the traffic volume.
ReplyDeleteHello I have recently received a PCN, for turning left at this junction, never before in my life have I not observed a no left/right turn because it is usually plain to see. This time I clearly was not able to see it in time turning off the North Circular. The PCN does refer to prohibited turn, no left turn. How much of a chance do I stand if I argue that the signage is confusing. I do recall it being extremely sunny that day and the sun's glare was directly in my windscreen at the time of the PCN, I have evidence to show the sun's position in relation to mine on that day. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe problem with a sun was in my eyes argument is that you still have to adhere to all road signs & are expected to pull the sun visor down for safety and if you can't proceed safely you should not proceed at all.
ReplyDeleteYou never can tell though what argument may work but if you lose at the tribunal the whole £130 will have to be paid.
Hi Mr Mustard. I have received two PCNs (17.05.18 and 20.04.18) for turning left at this junction. Any tips of appealing this?
ReplyDeleteI have no other advice other than as above apart from not to miss any deadlines.
ReplyDeleteHi Mr Mustard. Stirling work!
ReplyDeleteI am currently trying to fight a PCN on this same junction. On the day I took the left turn the key 'no left turn sign', positioned on the lamp post by the junction on the left hand side of the road was not visible. On looking at the image provided by Barnet it seems some joker had turned it round so it couldn't be seen. Barnet say that there are several other signs, which is true, but I know that I was looking instinctively for a sign on the left hand side of the road by the junction, and didn't see the others.
They are upholding the PCN even though their own footage shows the sign had been turned and was not visible to oncoming traffic.
Today is the last day I can pay the reduced amount, so though it pains me I'm probably going to have to pay. I though it was worth sharing as I'm sure plenty of others got stung in the same way. It was the morning of the 20th August, 2018 but who knows how long the sign could not be seen for.
Thanks.
One sign is the minimum requirement so best to pay at 50% as you say.
ReplyDeleteThe sign will probably have been hit by a lorry rather than a prankster
Hi Mr Mustard.
ReplyDeleteI have unfortuantly made this left turn at Tillington/Brentfield Gardens a ghastly 7 times!
I used to always use thisroad, as I grew up in the area and all my family did. Force of habbit and I do agree there is not enough time to take note of signs as you come off of the slip road whilst being road aware (especially when you have certain drivers up your backside!).
My problem is these PCNs happend in April 2017 - I appealed and lost and have paid a total of £1627 to LB Barnet for these x 7 traffic contraventions.
Now in October 2018 I have baliffs on my door demanding money due to an outstanding PCN (from April 17). I have not recieved any correspondance from LB Barnet since May 2017. No Letter of Enforement, no court summons/orders. Nothing in the post at all. Considering there is 16months apart, I totally thought all 7 of my PCNs were closed and I was back to being a law abiding citizen.
Is there anything I can do.
I'm actually pretty broke now so I'm thinking maybe they can send me to jail or community service?
Any advice would be great.
Please send an email to mrmustard@zoho.com
ReplyDeleteHi mr mustard. I recently moved from Essex to Barnet and I’ve been delivery driving for amazon and I followed the sat nav and totally missed the no turning left due to the busyness of everything and not particularly knowing where I was going. I actually done this same turn 3 days in a row and 2 months later I’ve got 3 fixed penalty fines. The reason they were 2 months late is I’ve obviously accidentally not re registered my car to my new address and they got sent to my old address and had to get re directed. So now I’m facing 3 X £195 fines which is £585!
ReplyDeleteI admit I’ve driven down there and not noticed which is wrong. Just blindly following the sat nav. And I should have registered my car at my new address. But this seems excessive to say the least. I don’t have £585 so I don’t know what to do at all really.
Just too add - when you come off a slip road and there are cars in front of you and behind you and cars pulled up to the right waiting to pull out, there is so much to look at to stop yourself from causing an incident that I feel you actually miss the signs. Escpecially as the cars to the right are waiting to pull out and drive down the road you’re going down it doesn’t click in your head not to turn down there
Try and rely on maps and your eyes rather than sat nav as you will be much less likely to go wrong that way. No sat nav can ever be completely up to date.
ReplyDeleteUpdate the address on the registration document at DVLA if you haven't already.
Email the vehicle registration and the 3 PCN refs to mrmustard@zoho.com
Just received a PCN for turning left here. Cannot remember the last time i used this route but i'm sure you used to be able to turn left before. Like others, i was just concentrating on the car coming from the right and just never noticed the signs. I think people have a point when they say how little time from exiting the A406 to reaching this junction there is to digest the signs and look out for other traffic at the same time. I'm no boy racer, my speed was appropriate for the conditions but i have to say this is a very cynical ploy by the council. I cannot for the life of me think why people should not be allowed to turn left here? I cannot see it being any more of an issue than those that can access it coming from the other direction. I was on a mercy mission that particular day as my aging dog was in great pain and i had to collect medication at a vet in Hampstead during lockdown. I absentmindedly followed my sat nav directions to get the medication ASAP to ease her pain. It's been a bad week, my dog sadly passed away and now i receive a PCN to add insult to injury. I just paid the £65.....i hope it chokes them!
ReplyDeleteRecently received 2 PCN's until realised no left turn. If look at the island on the left it has an illuminated bollard facing traffic coming off the A406 saying" keep left". But it should say "keep right" to drivers coming fast off the north Circular Road.Or just be without sign. That's what mislead me. My first reply was rejected but that might be automatic for everyone. There is something wrong with this junction. I was trained as a graduate highway engineer 50 years ago and such a design would not have passed scrutiny. Not sure I want to fight the system as the result is uncertain. I normally cycle here and there is a left turn for bikes! Now we are advised to avoid public transport hence I drive.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pure cash cow for the council.
ReplyDeleteTo Barnet's credit they publish their date, but since 2016 this one junction accounts for 25% of ALL Barnet traffic PCNs.
They've raised c£6m in that time.
Worse is that within a 5 metre radius there are no less than 15 signs so it is thoroughly confusing.
You can bet they've not done much to simplify.
Hi Mr Mustard I got a PCN for doing a left turn at Tilling Rd. How is anyone meant to read the sign which is conveniently on the right set away from the road? It’s not a junction where you stop and then could reasonably expect to notice the sign. I was focused on the blue car on my right and the pedestrians and did not notice the do not turn left sign. Do I have any grounds to appeal?
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with you about signage visibility, there are clues everywhere and the turn is discouraged by the angle. That said, I have a technical argument about the council not having the necessary legal power to issue at this location. It has won before at the tribunal. Please email a copy of your PCN to mrmustard@zoho.com
ReplyDelete