FOI request detail

Tower Bridge Diversion avoiding C-charge PCN, Re:FOI-2136-2122 / 0039-1718

Request ID: FOI-2353-2122
Date published: 10 February 2022

You asked

Further to Case Officer Graham Hurt's response to FOI-2136-2122... The applicant had requested diversion routes to be made available. Here is an excerpt: "For this particular FOI request I would like to access the road closure information for Tower Bridge Road maintenance work on 5 December 2021 and the diversion routes associated". I am in a very similar position to that applicant as I also received a C-Charge PCN when following the same diversion on the same day, 5th December 2021, from the same camera, Tower Hill; PCN No.TZ6808811A. In response to the aforementioned FOI request, the Case Officer stated that they DID have access to the route information requested. However, instead of providing the route plan, they instead mentioned that they understood the applicant's PCN to be cancelled. Despite receiving my PCN in exactly the same circumstances, and making a fully explicit representation, I received a Notice Of Rejection mentioning that I must pay the C-Charge when and where it is enforced. I'd like to add that in response to FOI request 0039-1718, TFL advised that cameras on a similar diversion route were switched off to avoid erroneous PCNs being issued. Please provide the following information: 1) The route of the Southbound Tower Bridge diversion, in place from 07:00H on Saturday 4th December 2021 until 03:00H on Monday 6th December 2021. 2) Why the Tower Hill camera, which was at the very start of the diversion route, was not switched off to prevent drivers who WERE following the diversion route from receiving PCNs? 3) The number of erroneous C-Charge PCNs issued at Tower Hill between 07:00H on Saturday 4th December 2021 and 03:00H on Monday 6th December 2021. Thank you,

We answered

Our ref: FOI-2353-2122/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 January 2022 asking for information about Congestion Charging.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.

1) The route of the Southbound Tower Bridge diversion, in place from 07:00H on Saturday 4th December 2021 until 03:00H on Monday 6th December 2021.

The diversion routes was as follows:
Northbound diversion route

Queen Elizabeth Street, left onto Tooley Street, right onto Tower Bridge Road to Bricklayers Arms, Great Dover Street right onto Borough High Street ahead on Southwark Bridge ahead onto Gracechurch Street right onto Fenchurch Street to ahead Aldgate High Street to the CC/ULEZ boundary exit. The diversion then returns vehicles to Tower Bridge via Leman Street.

Southbound diversion route

East Smithfield – Ahead to Tower Hill
Mansell Street – Right to Tower Hill
Tower Hill ahead to Minories left onto Aldgate High Street ahead onto Fenchurch Street left onto Gracechurch Street ahead onto Southwark Bridge ahead onto Borough High Street left onto Great Dover Street to end of diversion and boundary exit at the Bricklayers Arms.
The diversion continues out of the zone to direct vehicle along Tower Bridge Road to the end of diversion.

Unfortunately it appears we were given the wrong route initially and so some cameras weren’t disabled as they should have been.

However corrective advice was issued to Capita to ensure any representations made were cancelled if the vehicle was on the route signed on street where some cameras were not disabled.

2) Why the Tower Hill camera, which was at the very start of the diversion route, was not switched off to prevent drivers who WERE following the diversion route from receiving PCNs?

Traffic wasn’t diverted into the zone at that location so there was no need to switch off cameras there.

3) The number of erroneous C-Charge PCNs issued at Tower Hill between 07:00H on Saturday 4th December 2021 and 03:00H on Monday 6th December 2021.

Unfortunately we cannot identify all PCNs issued due to this diversion as there will be motorists who have travelled within that area because they just happened to be going that way but failed to pay the charge.

We can provide the information on the number of PCNs issued during the diversion which were cancelled following representations made which cited being diverted into the zone. There were 375 of these.

In the circumstances, I can confirm that the PCN issued to you has now been cancelled.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.


Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

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