New Traffic Camera on Strand on the Green?
While the restrictions have been in place for months, I think I've just spotted the new ANPR camera on Thames Road. So watch out for yet more fines coming our way!If it is a traffic camera (maybe those in the know can check!) it appears to be positioned on a lamppost on the corner of Spring Grove and Strand on the Green, pointing eastwards, away from the bridge. Therefore I assume this means the western exit/entry point to the 'restricted area' is several hundred yards from the bridge itself - plus possibly further depending on the zoom of the camera.I think this is very misleading as the original Hounslow directive says the zone is FROM THE KEW BRIDGE / STRAND ON THE GREEN JUNCTION, and I quote:"Strand on The Green / Thames Road: An access only zone to prevent through traffic. The zone is proposed to stretch from the Kew Bridge / Strand on The Green junction, to the junction of Grove Park Terrace / Grove Park Road. Vehicles would be allowed to enter the zone to access residential properties and businesses in the area unchanged, but not to pass through both points as part of a longer journey." Therefore be careful how far you drive along Strand on the Green towards the bridge as you may inadvertently trigger a fine, even though you're not actually intending to use it as a cut-through. I've done this journey from Grove Park to the bridge twice today, stopping well short of the bridge itself (dropping my daughter to the bus stop on her first day back to school, please don't lecture me about cycling, I cycle the rest of the time) - so I may have picked up 4 tickets as in theory I drove 'through the zone' 4 times! I suppose the only positive side is that people who turn into Strand from the bridge end, and happen to catch sight of the ridiculously small and badly placed signs, might have time to realise and do a U-turn back to the bridge before they drive past Spring Grove. Kerching kerching for Hounslow. Or maybe it's not a traffic camera, let's hope so...
Julia Watkiss ● 1874d3 Comments