Author Topic: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016  (Read 5285 times)

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Offline The Bald Eagle

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Roll call:

Me
Mr Mustard
Bad Company

The day started at Newham's Temple Mill Lane, in bright sunshine at just after 11am. All three of us turned up within minutes of each other and all three of us were equally surprised to see the nondescript little grey $camera car back in its usual place, parked on double yellows and obstructing the cycle lane (see photo below courtesy of Mr M).

So why was the $car back when Newham council went to the expense of fitting a fixed $camera last year (see: http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php?topic=5818.msg34682#msg34682)?

Our sources (little birds) tell us that the $car had been returning on a daily basis for many months, so what was the problem with what was supposed to be a highly lucrative fixed $camera?

Another little bird (we have many  ;) ) reliably informed us that there have been problems with blurred images being produced by the fixed $camera and that the council wea$els are in the process of purchasing a more up to date system to replace both the $car and the $camera.

Anyway, we commenced $chunting and I am pleased to report business was extremely slow to begin with. Bad Company was disappointed at the lack of saves, but realised that the fewer we save, the less the wea$els take off motorists when we aren't there to assist with compliance levels.

The $car disappeared shortly after we got there, but came back about 30 minutes later, so Mr M went to offer his assistance to motorists at the other end of the restriction. It must have occurred to the driver that we weren't going anywhere soon and that we were going to severely dent her ticket target if she hung around, so it was offski once more.

We hung around and educated a number of motorists about the use of TML, and by about 2.15pm it was clear the driver wasn't going to be returning. By this time my bald head had absorbed a great deal of solar energy (I must remember to take a hat next time), and there were reports that military satellites were recording unusually high levels of heat radiating from what could have been a belisha beacon located in the Temple Mill Lane area.

So me and Mr M parted company with BC and headed of for some lunch at Cafe Buzz in Barnet, before heading off to Connell Crescent.

Connell Crescent

We arrived late (at about 3.50pm) at CC, and unlike TML there was no slow start. Traffic was already backed up along the slip road leading to the Hanger Lane gyratory, and drivers were being tempted to take the now forbidden short cut. Fortunately, we were able to persuade many dozens of them not to do so, with the majority most grateful that we had shown them the potential error of their ways.

By the time we finished our shift at 7pm I estimate we had saved at least 80 drivers, which doesn't concur with anything like the number of drivers that Ealing council admit to fining on average per day. I have grave reservations that the council are manipulating the figures in order to make themselves look better when the press come sniffing round, and my suspicions were only enhanced when both a local resident and Mr Briefcase approached us to say that when we are not there, there is a steady flow of traffic along CC.

I have a plan that should expose any such manipulation of figures. Watch this space.

The Bald Eagle is plotting... <baldeagleplotting>  <Muahahaha>

Epilogue

After leaving CC, Mr M took me to somewhere in Barnet where a private parking company have been allowed to issue private parking tickets on what looks like a part of the public highway. Plans are afoot to put the squeeze on this little $cam too. $chunters may want to keep an eye on their inboxes.  ;)
WE ARE WATCHING YOU

Offline Mr Mustard

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Re: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016
« Reply #1 on: 19 May, 2016, 12:09:32 PM »
A bit naughty (gosh, how unusual) that the camera car did not have any camera stickers on it. I tooks photos from N,S,E & W.

There seem to be an unlimited number of honey spots appearing all over London, which TSRGD 2016 will only make harder to fight, so I think we need a membership drive for more standing about on street corners and a small army of scribes to put pressure on councils to change locations that are unclear.

I would do more but am already up to capacity with PCNs and nearly imploded (nasty) a couple of weeks ago when I just couldn't keep up with my inbox. Yesterday I represented 7 motorists at London Tribunals on the 25 consolidated Connell Crescent cases and the decision should be out in days. Ealing only sent 4 officers and a Solicitor to battle with me.

Offline 2b1ask1

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Re: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016
« Reply #2 on: 19 May, 2016, 06:46:50 PM »
good work all :)
Willing to do my bit...

Offline Bad Company

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Re: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016
« Reply #3 on: 26 May, 2016, 02:30:19 PM »
As Bald Eagle said Temple Mill was not busy that day,  I think the locals are learning about the camera.

I'm looking forward to visiting Connell Crescent before too long.  That is unless we come up with another location in the meantime.

Offline 2b1ask1

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Re: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016
« Reply #4 on: 27 May, 2016, 06:50:07 PM »
We could drive around London turning all the bus lane signs back around as a gesture of goodwill to all Londoners?

I'd be up for that.
Willing to do my bit...

Offline DastardlyDick

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Re: Temple Mill Lane and Connell Crescent $chunt - Friday 13 May 2016
« Reply #5 on: 04 June, 2016, 12:53:09 PM »
I'm not suggesting that any of the Connell Crescent $chunters are anything less than totally law abiding, but it may be of use to them to know that the  new average speed cameras on the NCR (A406) from Colney Hatch to Hanger Lane will be "live" from Monday 6th June in both directions.