I was fined £130 for driving down a road I use all the time on way to a birthday party – I missed a tiny sign

A MUM was slapped with a £130 fine after she missed a “tiny sign” while taking her daughter to a birthday party.

Katie Pennell, of Sydenham in South London, said she drives along Dermody Road “all the time” – but failed to spot a sign warning it’s part of a ‘low-traffic neighbourhood’ scheme.

The street was blocked off by planters and bollards during the pandemic, and reopened recently as restrictions eased.

Katie told : “They put in these restrictions during Covid to ease traffic, and there were things in place like plant pots and bollards to stop you driving down.

“They’ve taken them away now so I assumed you could drive down it because it’s just a normal road with no schools or anything on.

“Next thing I know I got a fine in the post saying I had to pay £130.”

At one point, Katie drove down the road every day without any issue, and she said she was stunned to get the fine.

“There’s a tiny sign on the road but it’s not clear what it means at all,” she said.

“I was just taking my daughter to her birthday party and now I’ve got this massive fine for essentially doing nothing.

“I still don’t really know what the reasoning is.”

She said traffic in the area is already something out of a “nightmare” – with the restriction adding to gridlock.

In just a year, more than 17,500 fines totalling £2.2million were handed out to drivers in Dermody Road. One man was issued with 58 fines after unknowingly using the road to deliver food to a homeless shelter.

But the local authority has defended the scheme, which aims to prevent through-roads being used by drivers so pedestrians and cyclists have priority.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “The Lewisham and Lee Green low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is focused on reducing unnecessary car journeys and discouraging through-traffic.

“Whilst these changes can take time to take effect, we expect to see a decrease in traffic in the long-run, as people choose to drive less.

“This will free up our streets for essential car journeys, help people to walk and cycle more, and improve road safety.

“The signs are some of the largest and clearest of their type accompanied with road markings, to aid with visibility, and these types of signs are used commonly throughout London.

“We’re removing all physical barriers and replacing them with camera-enforced restrictions, as agreed by the council, to further improve access for emergency services and to reduce vandalism and operational costs.

“All barriers are marked with signage outlining the restrictions.

“The cost of a fine is set by London Councils and money received from fines is reinvested back into local communities – helping to fund concessionary travel, the maintenance of streets and pavements, improved parking facilities and other initiatives to help support people to walk and cycle more.

“The number of fines issued for breaching restrictions has been reducing as motorists have become more aware of them.

“Congestion on roads can occur for a number of reasons, including events that are often unplanned and can be difficult to influence, such as emergency works and unexpected closures of the Blackwall Tunnel.

“However, the LTN is managed in a way that allows us to be flexible and respond to incidents that affect routes in the area.

“We’re continuing to monitor and review traffic, speed and air quality levels in and around the LTN to help ensure we can address any issues where possible.”