The New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee was scheduled to meet on Thursday 22 January 2026 to discuss the operation and enforcement of yellow box junctions on Kingston Road. The meeting was called following a requisition by three committee members concerned about the junctions' impact on traffic flow, fines issued, and road safety.

Kingston Road Yellow Box Junctions

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the yellow box junctions located on Kingston Road at its intersections with Elm Road and Westbury Road. This discussion was prompted by a requisition from Councillors James Giles, Yvonne Tracey, and Kamala Kugan, who raised concerns about the operation, enforcement, and financial implications of these junctions.

The requisition highlighted that between January and August 2025, approximately £451,405 was generated from 6,568 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued at these junctions, leading to suggestions that they operate as a cash cow rather than a proportionate traffic management measure. Concerns were also raised about the implications for traffic flow on Kingston Road and adjoining streets, potential impacts on emergency vehicle access, and the overall appropriateness and proportionality of the current configuration, signing, and enforcement regime.

The report pack indicated that the yellow box junctions have been in place since at least 2015, with camera enforcement commencing in June 2020. Modifications were made as part of the council's 'Go Cycle' project in 2022, and further minor adjustments followed a road safety audit in late 2022. The report stated that these junctions comply with the requirements of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, meaning drivers entering them are liable for PCNs.

Enforcement data presented in the report pack showed combined figures for both junctions, with an approximate split of 70/30 in favour of the Elm Road junction. The report noted that the enforcement system did not initially separate data for the two junctions, leading to confusion. For the 2025/26 financial year up to December, 5,530 PCNs had been issued, with 4,764 paid, totalling £413,718.00. The report also indicated a noticeable decrease in the annual volume of PCNs issued across the four complete financial years, suggesting that the enforcement measures might be successfully deterring contraventions.

Regarding collisions and traffic flow, the report stated that over the last five years, there had been 10 reported collisions on Kingston Road between Grayham Road and Albany Road, with nine classified as slight and one as serious. Traffic flow data indicated a significant volume of vehicles during the 7 am to 7 pm period. No negative impact on emergency services had been previously reported, although final responses from blue light services were awaited.

The report's recommendations included noting the historical context, enforcement data, and collision statistics; noting the officer assessment that the current junction configuration and enforcement regime are legally compliant and proportionate; and approving the proposal to maintain the current layout while implementing technical changes to separate enforcement data reporting for the two junctions for improved future transparency.

The report also referenced the council's adoption of enforcement powers for certain traffic contraventions, including box junctions, in accordance with the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003, which took effect from 1 July 2013. The report stated that any surplus income generated from enforcing yellow box junctions and other moving traffic offences must be ringfenced for specific uses, such as highways maintenance and concessionary travel passes, as set out in legislation.

The meeting agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence and declarations of interest, as well as a provision for the exclusion of the press and public if exempt matters were to be considered.