Wandsworth Council says it is stepping up patrols after issuing 29 penalties in June to vehicles allegedly breaching 7.5-tonne weight restrictions.
Mobile CCTV cars are being deployed across the borough to record vehicle registration numbers, together with the date and time an HGV passes a restriction sign. Council officers then review the footage and check the vehicle’s classification before issuing a penalty charge notice.
The £160 fine can be reduced to £80 when paid within the discount period.
The restrictions do not amount to a blanket ban on HGVs. Vehicles may enter a restricted road where access is genuinely required, including to make a delivery or reach premises located there.
However, the exemption does not allow drivers to use residential roads as shortcuts or through-routes.
Government guidance explains that an “except for access” exemption normally applies when a vehicle needs to reach premises or land beside the restricted road and no other route is available. The weight shown on the sign refers to the vehicle’s maximum gross weight, rather than its actual weight at the time.
Operators making legitimate deliveries in restricted areas should therefore retain evidence such as delivery notes, customer addresses, booking details and vehicle tracking records. This could be important if a CCTV-issued penalty needs to be challenged.
More penalties expected this summer
Wandsworth Council said roads had been prioritised following complaints from residents and because of the level of unauthorised HGV traffic.
The authority claims that large vehicles using unsuitable residential streets can damage road surfaces and parked vehicles, as well as create safety concerns.
It has warned that the number of penalties is expected to increase as monitoring is intensified during the summer. The council will review compliance levels and consider further measures where necessary.
The operation is separate from the London Lorry Control Scheme, which restricts the movement of vehicles over 18 tonnes on certain roads during nights and weekends. Wandsworth’s current enforcement drive concerns local roads carrying specifically signed 7.5-tonne restrictions.
