Enforcement of four box junction boxes in Southall is suspended by Ealing Council.

Southall motorists and others driving through Southall will be relieved to learn that 4 box junctions, 3 of them on South road within yards of each other are no longer being enforced by Ealing Council as of the 30th of October.

In the summer of 2007 two motorists objected to the notices they received for the South Road and St Joseph's Drive junction. Their appeal was heard a few months later by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services (PATAS).

The adjudicator stated that Ealing Council's interpretations were "simply misconceived" and that "the junction is unenforceable".

Only a week ago, London United Busways were the latest to successfully win their appeal for 17 tickets in South road, Southall.

The junctions are meant to improve traffic flow. Yet, last year, Ealing Council was fully aware of the high number of violations by drivers and the many complaints at the South Road/St Joseph’s Drive junction.

It was obvious that the junction did "not assist traffic" flow and they were considering "reducing the width" of the junction.

During the 2007/8 year, nearly 19,000 motorists were fined for stopping in the box junction between South Road and St Joseph's Drive, generating a £1 million for Ealing Council.

There are three other box junctions within a very short distance of this one.

Ealing Council has been in contact with the Department for Transport for 8 months. After early indications that box junctions could be used in place of T-junctions, the Department for Transport appear to be suggesting this is not the case. They have failed to provide a report setting out their position, despite repeated requests.

Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services, Councillor Phil Taylor, said: "We feel we are now left with no alternative but to suspend enforcement on these six junctions with immediate effect and remove them from the road."

"Anyone who has paid a penalty charge notice since the DfT’s revised guidance was issued verbally on Thursday, 30 October, will be refunded."

"Any unpaid fines for those junctions will not be pursued by the Council."

The affected double width yellow box T-junctions are:

• South Road junction St Joseph’s Drive, Southall
• South Road junction Cambridge Road, Southall
• South Road junction Hamilton Road, Southall
• High Street junction Avenue Road, Southall
• Uxbridge Road junction Lower Boston Road Hanwell - right turn out
• The Broadway junction The Mall, Ealing

The Department for Transport has previously said it expected councils to pay back money which had been raised through unfair enforcement to motorists.