London junction fines exceed £2.5M in 14 months

Motorists Pay £2.6 Million in Fines at London Junction

A junction in a wealthy area of London has been labeled a ‘money-maker’ after motorists paid £2.6 million in fines in just 14 months.

From April 2024 to June 2025, Kensington and Chelsea Council issued over 36,000 penalty charge notices. These fines were given to motorists driving larger vehicles caught on camera using the north side entrance of Albert Bridge on the Chelsea Embankment. A weight limit was introduced in January 2024.

Signs have been placed to warn drivers of the restriction, but thousands of heavy vehicles still use the bridge daily. This has resulted in fines totaling £2,564,230.

Weight Limit Details

Kensington and Chelsea Council approved the weight limit at the entrance of the Grade-II bridge to protect it from damage. Vehicles must weigh under three tonnes and be fewer than 6’6 wide to cross.

Typically, small vans like Citroen Berlingos and medium vans like Ford Transits are below three tonnes, while Luton vans exceed this limit. Modern trucks and some SUVs, such as Range Rovers, are close to or exceed the limit.

Traffic Issues Observed

On a busy morning last November, Metro observed several heavy vehicles on the bridge during midweek commuter times and evening rush hour. One nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described busy mornings as ‘beeping hour’ when large vehicles get stuck at the entrance, blocking cars behind them.

Motorists risk getting stuck in the yellow box in front of the bridge, which could lead to further fines. It is unclear how many motorists have received fines from the yellow box, as this is monitored by Transport for London (TfL). Metro has contacted TfL for comment.

Community Reactions

Another resident, who has lived near the bridge for over 30 years, called the location a ‘money-maker’ for the council. The pensioner, who drives and cycles, stated that changes to access at Chelsea Bridge have redirected traffic to Albert Bridge.

She noted that Albert Bridge is not suitable for heavy traffic and emphasized the importance of the weight restrictions. She said, ‘People who ignore it are ignorant. It is a fragile structure, that’s why there is a weight restriction. It’s not just for the hell of it.’

Revenue from Fines

According to a Freedom of Information request, Albert Bridge north generated the most revenue from penalty charge notices in London from April 2024 to June 2025. Barking and Dagenham Council came second, with £1,990,325 in fines from Station Parade. Camrose Avenue in Harrow was third, with £1,599,341 in fines during the same period.

History of Albert Bridge

Despite its picturesque design, the 710-foot bridge has faced issues since it opened in 1873. It was designed for horse-drawn carriages and carts crossing between Battersea and Chelsea. Originally a toll bridge, it was considered a financial failure, and the toll was removed six years after opening.

In 1884, engineers found corrosion in the iron rods of the bridge. Despite improvements, a five-tonne weight limit was enforced due to concerns from chief engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette. This limit was tightened to two tonnes in 1935 due to further deterioration.

The bridge, nicknamed ‘The Trembling Lady’, continued to deteriorate, leading to more improvements. A traffic island was installed in 1990 to prevent larger vehicles from entering. Further improvements were made in 2010, and the bridge reopened in 2011 after being closed for 22 months.

Official Statement

A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson stated, ‘We take our responsibility to protect Albert Bridge as a vital river crossing and an iconic landmark very seriously. To ensure it remains open for the future, we have been enforcing the weight restriction with fines since January 2024. We strongly encourage drivers to check the weight of their vehicles are under three tonnes before they pass onto the bridge, to help us protect the structure and to avoid a fine.’