PCN Box Junction Kew Bridge Road/Kew Road/Chiswick High Road
Request ID: FOI-1857-2223 Date published: 25 November 2022
You asked
1) How many PCNs for entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited have been issued for the box junction at Kew Bridge Road/Kew Road/Chiswick High Road for all time?
2) How many of these PCNs have been issued since the cycle lane works commenced and have been in place?
3) How many PCNs have been issued since the opening of Brentford Stadium?
4) Was the phasing of the pedestrian crossing on the Chiswick High Road (Kew Bridge Station side) tested to ensure it was not detrimental to those coming from Kew Road?
5) How many PCNs at this junction have been successfully appealed to TFL?
6) How many PCNs at this junction have been successfully appealed at adjudication?
7) How many PCNs at this junction have been issued to TFL buses?
8) How many of the PCNs were issued to vehicles that entered into the box junction from the right hand lane of Kew Road when attempting to turn into Chiswick High Road, compared to those in the left hand lane of Kew Road that were turning?
We answered
TfL Ref: 1857-223
Thank you for your request received by us on 1 November 2022 asking for information about Penalty Chare Notices (PCNs) for contravening a box junction in the Chiswick High Road area.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that hold some of the information you require. You asked:
How many PCNs for entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited have been issued for the box junction at Kew Bridge Road/Kew Road/Chiswick High Road for all time?
How many of these PCNs have been issued since the cycle lane works commenced and have been in place?
How many PCNs have been issued since the opening of Brentford Stadium?
How many of the PCNs were issued to vehicles that entered into the box junction from the right hand lane of Kew Road when attempting to turn into Chiswick High Road, compared to those in the left hand lane of Kew Road that were turning?
How many PCNs at this junction have been successfully appealed to TFL?
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested above as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 31 of the FOI Act, which relates to law enforcement. Specifically, we are refusing your request under section 31(1)(b), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and section 31(1)(g), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the exercise by any public authority of its functions or any of the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
Disclosure of this information has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’ and the release of information regarding our enforcement activity across the network would be likely to lead to further continued detailed requests concerning other enforcement activity which would enable others to build up a database of enforcement functionality, as well as attempt to predict when enforcement may or may not be operational by searching for any patterns that may be perceived. Enforcement restrictions must be adhered to at all times, irrespective of when enforcement activity takes place. We consider that there is a very real risk that disclosure would be likely to increase further the confidence of anyone inclined to contravene these restrictions, even if that confidence is ultimately misguided or irrational.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance feel that balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that drivers in London use the roads in compliance with the relevant restrictions and that we are able to manage traffic on the road network. It would be strongly against the public interest to release any information that would undermine this.
Was the phasing of the pedestrian crossing on the Chiswick High Road (Kew Bridge Station side) tested to ensure it was not detrimental to those coming from Kew Road?
The operation of these signals was extensively modelled using sophisticated traffic modelling software in order to minimise delay to all vehicles and reduce exit blocking at the junction. The outputs of this process were consulted upon during 2017 and 2019.
The Kew Bridge junction design, implemented in 2021, has the pedestrian crossing on Chiswick High Road (north-eastbound) by Kew Bridge Railway Station set-up to be green to traffic at the same time as traffic from Kew Road, coming northbound off the Bridge. Upon implementation, the signal timings were extensively tested on site to ensure safe and reliable operation for all road users, including road users coming northbound from Kew Bridge.
How many PCNs at this junction have been successfully appealed at adjudication?
7) How many PCNs at this junction have been issued to TFL buses?
We can advise that eleven PCNs have been issued to London Buses.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
