Louie French, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has today organised a group letter from local Conservative MPs and Peter Fortune AM, calling on Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London to fix the mess they have created on the A20 Eastbound near Sidcup.
In recent weeks Louie has been contacted by hundreds of drivers across London and the South East who have been issued speeding fines, but were unaware of the reduction in the speed limit from 70mph and 50mph to 40mph on this stretch of the A20.
The majority of drivers have stated that they have been issued fines for travelling at speeds less than 50mph, with many concerned that they could now lose their freedom to drive and in some cases their jobs due to multiple fines and points being issued in quick succession.
TfL's communication of this "temporary" speed limit has been poor, with no public consultation and at least one rogue 50mph sign found to have been in place still whilst fines were being issued for vehicles travelling above 40mph. Many Satellite Navigation systems are also still showing 50mph and 70mph for this section of road.
Louie and colleagues have therefore urged TfL to cancel these unfair fines and points and to finally commit to sorting out the ongoing mess they have created on the A20. Their main asks are as follows:
- Confirm the dates when the road safety works will begin and when the “temporary” speed limit will be ended.
- Confirm what steps you are taking to improve the signage for drivers and what proactive communications you are taking to ensure Satellite Navigation systems are updated.
- Confirm how many speeding fines have been issued on this stretch of road since the cameras and new speed limits were installed. Please treat this as a freedom of information request if you are not willing to be transparent.
- Request that the police cancel all speeding fines and license points directly linked to this ongoing issue, especially those where drivers were travelling 50mph and under.
