Barnet is having to adjust to becoming a potentially troublesome gateway to the Ultra Low Emission Zone, With this status have come problems: several cameras have already been vandalised and despite the introduction of two charge-free corridors around High Barnet, it is feared some motorists will inevitably become confused.
Transport for London has already named the Stirling Corner roundabout at the junction of the A1 and the A411 as one of the top three trouble spots around the perimeter of the capital.
Because of a standoff with Hertfordshire County Council, there are few if any warning signs on county roads and TfL believes there is an increased risk of collisions as drivers of non-compliant vehicles take evasive action to avoid entering the ULEZ zone and having to pay the daily charge of £12.50.
Signposts for vehicles approaching Stirling Corner from Watford, Elstree, and Borehamwood on the A411 – see above – give drivers no warning that if they turn right into the A1 towards Mill Hill, they will be caught immediately by ULEZ cameras.
Councillor Richard Roberts, leader of Hertfordshire, has accused the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of creating a tax border between his county and Greater London and he says there is no way his council was going to allow signs that endorse ULEZ.
While there has been nothing like the direct action taken by disgruntled motorists in south-east London, some of the cameras in New Barnet have been vandalised.
Connecting cables to three cameras at traffic lights at the junction of East Barnet Road and Margaret Road appeared to have been cut over the Bank Holiday weekend; the cables had not been repaired by the first day of the charge.
Other cameras opposite the Everyman cinema, at the junction of the Great North Road and Station Road, were also said to have been vandalised but they all appeared intact for the start of ULEZ.
Given its siting on the edge of the Green Belt, where there are fewer roads than in urban areas, High Barnet does have a special status within ULEZ.
There are two charge-free corridors which will allow “escape” routes around High Barnet for drivers of non-compliant vehicles seeking to avoid the charge. They will also allow for greater charge-free movement for vehicles travelling to and from Borehamwood, Potters Bar, and other nearby destinations in Hertsmere.
Barnet Road – from Stirling Corner to The Arkley public house – is the longest of the two charge-free corridors.
But non-compliant vehicles travelling towards Barnet town centre will be charged if they turn off Barnet Road.
At junction after junction, on the right and the left, there are ULEZ signs and cameras – at the junction with Hendon Wood Lane, Barnet Gate Lane, Rowley Lane, Rowley Green Road, Quinta Drive and Elmbank Avenue, and Collison Avenue.
Even the small cul-de-sac Field End has been included in the zone – perhaps because it includes the Arkley Club and its car park.
The only road that is exempt is the continuation of this exclusion corridor along Galley Lane which is charge free through to the end of the borough boundary with Hertfordshire.
For traffic approaching High Barnet via Galley Lane, there are ULEZ warning signs and cameras right across the junction with Wood Street. The only alternative for drivers seeking to avoid the charge is to turn right at The Arkley public house and continue along the charge-free corridor to Stirling Corner.
Unlike the opposite side of the roundabout, the road sign on the A411 towards Stirling Corner indicates that vehicles turning left into the A1 will be entering the zone.
The second charge-free corridor will benefit traffic heading south from Junction 23 towards High Barnet: St Albans Road becomes an exclusion route from the county boundary at the Shire Golf Club.
Warning signs and cameras indicate that ULEZ applies to any right turn – into Wrotham Road, Alston Road and Stapylton Road, but non-compliant vehicles do have the charge-free option to turn left at the junction with the High Street and head north through Hadley Highstone to Potters Bar.
Vehicles heading south from Potters Bar to High Barnet will be able to continue charge-free past Hadley Highstone and into the upper end of the High Street, but for vehicles that fail the emissions standards, the only alternative to paying the charge will be to turn right at the junction with St Albans Road and head back to the Barnet boundary.
The creation of these charge-free corridors has already led to something of a bonanza for residents living on these roads in south London. They are being offered regular daily payments for parking spaces for non-compliant vehicles.
This might become a tempting offer for people living along the Barnet Road, between The Arkley and Stirling Corner where there a several small cul-de-sacs which seem to have been excluded, as well as small private roads which are exempt.
Another potential problem is the increase in street parking along these charge-free corridors: on the first day of ULEZ the St Albans Road was packed with parked vehicles as far as the eye could see.
In addition to having to repair vandalised cameras and signs, there may have to be some adjustments in the siting of camera poles.
One householder in Wood Street was surprised and aghast to find that a ULEZ camera had been installed on the pavement directly in front of the house without notice or thought.
There is some suggestion it might be moved further from the property – just one of the many teething problems as High Barnet becomes what Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn says will be one of Sadiq Khan’s “Checkpoint Charlies” to enforce ULEZ.
Some High Barnet residents with older cars are already trying to work out whether they can devise their own private “rat runs” to drive around the outskirts of the town with incurring the charge.
This will require them to take streets which avoid the cameras – and as TfL says it has not yet completed its camera installation programme they will need to be on the guard.
