Published: Wednesday 13 October 2021
Noisy and nuisance drivers could soon face fines anywhere in Kensington and Chelsea, after residents overwhelmingly supported a boroughwide crackdown.
After piloting cutting edge acoustic camera technology last year in Knightsbridge, the Council has issued fines to 144 drivers caught racing or revving in Sloane Street and Pont Street.
The Council’s leadership team has decided to expand a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), currently only existing in Knightsbridge, to allow officers to enforce against anti-social driving from Kensal Road in North Kensington to the Chelsea Embankment.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for environment planning and place said:
“Our streets tend to attract drivers who think they’re The Stig. We’ve shown that we won’t put up with nuisance drivers but this isn’t an issue concentrated solely in Knightsbridge. Residents have told us it’s happening across the borough which is why we’re expanding our enforcement area.
“The technology is not cheap so we’ll be looking at funding streams and asking government – who set the limit for the fines – if we can issue higher fines to cover our costs and deter the worst offenders.”
Of the 473 people who took part in the consultation, more than 92% said revving, speeding or rapid accelerations 95% said that revving engines frequently caused them undue noise nuisance, annoyance, danger or harm to them or their property.
Brompton and Hans Town ward, home to Harrods, and around Holland Park were the areas with the highest number of respondents where people had witnessed antisocial driving. Residents were keen to see the powers against anti-social driving continue, with 93% in support of the existing PSPO and 84% keen to see it expanded across the borough.
Initially the council will be looking to use three cameras around the borough. At operating costs of £21,000, the council will be looking at alternative funding streams for more cameras in the future. The current fixed penalty is limited to £100 by national legislation or £1,000 if the matter is heard in a magistrate’s court. Repeat offenders have not been caught suggesting the fine is a deterrent. However the Council will be approaching government to explore the opportunity of issuing higher fines to the worst offenders. All cameras so far have been funded by the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.
Enforcement outside of Knightsbridge will come into effect when the current PSPO expires on 25 November 2021.
Full report to the Leadership Team as presented on 7 October 2021 is available to view online via the Council’s committee calendar.