Bexley Council has responded after three friends received the same driving fine within a 24 hour period – and tens more then complained after the News Shopper reported it.

The yellow box on the A207 near the Danson Lane junction when approaching Welling High Street is causing problems for a number of Bexley residents.

They are finding their cars stuck in the box due to traffic stopping suddenly or because other vehicles are pulling out from junctions, and subsequently being sent fines through the post.

Many fined have said their punishment is unfair, but despite complaints, Bexley Council insists that the 15-year-old yellow box “plays a key role in keeping traffic flowing through Welling”.

A Bexley Council spokesperson said: “This yellow box has been in this location for over 15 years and has been enforced for many years.

“It plays a key role in keeping traffic flowing through Welling.

“Anyone who feels they have received a penalty notice which they don’t agree with can lodge an appeal.”

Here are the stories of a number of Bexley residents who have been caught:

The traffic was moving in front of Christina Bates, so she pulled out - before the traffic then stopped again suddenly.

She said she then received a fine, appealed it, it was declined, so she appealed it again, and then heard nothing else until one morning when her car was clamped on her drive.

She said: “A guy was telling me that my car was clamped because of a fine from Bexley Council and that I had to pay £500 to release it.”

Derek Thompson had an unsuccessful appeal to Bexley Council after he got stuck in the box while towing a caravan.

He said: “A car pulled out from Danson lane in front of me and I had nowhere to go.

“I know many people that have been caught the same way.”

Candice Young said the traffic was moving and then abruptly stopped which caused her five second stop in the yellow box to cost her.

She added: “Bexley Council said it can’t be appealed as CCTV footage showed the stop, but oddly it also shows the traffic moving then abruptly stopping.”

News Shopper: Bexley Council (photo: Google)Bexley Council (photo: Google)

The back of Paula Smith’s car was in the box as the traffic lights had change to red – but she said there was “no point” appealing her fine.

Paula told the News Shopper: “I was not obstructing any cars turning out or turning into Danson Lane.”

Keith Collins was fined when a car pulled out in front of him and so he occupied the yellow box due to having nowhere else to go.

He said: “I was on the main road, stopped at the edge of the box and a car at the far side of the box pulled forward.

“I pulled forward and then a car pulled out in front of me from Danson Lane and I occupied the yellow box space because I had nowhere else to go.”

Barbara Salter joins those who were fined after the traffic stopped suddenly in front of her and she had no choice but to stop in the box.

And, Janice Haikney was “incensed” by her fine – and now avoids that part of the road entirely.

She said: “I’m an experienced driver and have never had any road traffic offences except for this yellow box.

“I looked several cars ahead as I was always taught to do and everything was moving fine so I proceeded, but the traffic suddenly stopped abruptly due to something which was far too ahead for me to anticipate.

“I was left with my back two wheels in the yellow box.

“I wanted to appeal as the footage they had on camera clearly showed how quickly the cars went from moving to breaking but I feared the fine would increase.

“I know so many people who have been caught in it and we all know the rules of yellow boxes.

“It’s definitely a money-making scheme by the Council.”

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