Enfield Council have been accused of adding to congestion rather than easing it by enforcing traffic regulations on a busy crossing.

On May 3, a camera overlooking the yellow box junction of Carterhatch Lane and Donkey Lane was switched on and fines are being fully enforced for the first time, with a £65 fine if you stop in the box.

The council say it is there to help the flow of traffic, but some have argued it does not help and is just a council cash cow.

Nick Dines, Conservative councillor for Chase Ward, said: “You can be the safest, most careful driver in the world, yet at some point if you use that Carterhatch Lane junction regularly you will get stuck in the yellow box. It is an absolute nightmare.

“I find it unbelievable that instead of doing all it can to sort the junction out it appears the council has decided to whack a camera up and collect as much money as it can through fining motorists, though given the anti-motorist stance taken by the council I guess it should not come as a surprise to any of us.

“That they have decided to fill their financial black hole by fining motorists is not right and I hope they declare an amnesty in fines given and take down the camera from this location.”

Nearby residents have also complained about the council’s tougher stance.

Trish Kelly, of Lancaster Road, Enfield, complained not only is the box unhelpful, but so are the warning signs for the junction, which appear to be obscured by trees.

She said: “This is a difficult junction to cross at the best of times but normally flows quite well.

“It is a money making issue. Residents are up on arms and it makes the box unsafe us motorists, trying to clear the box is leaving tail backs down Carterhatch Lane back to the canal even after 7pm.

“To top it all they placed the sign within a tree, so you are not even warned properly.”

Penny Charalambous has lived with her family on nearby Linden Gardens for 18 years, and says the traffic in recent weeks has been the worst she has ever seen on the junction.

She said: “There has never been an issue of congestion. I understand as a motorist you should not stop in the box junction, but this is a bit different, as it is almost impossible with the traffic and the junction not to stop.

“Now we have to wait on the service road, and it is very difficult to get out. You end up getting in the wrong lane, people have to maneuver around you and there is a lot of road rage, it is chaos.

“You cannot see the traffic out of Donkey Lane either, the council really have not given it enough thought. I have complained but had no response, they are just enjoying their money.

“Every time the traffic lights change, there is someone in the box – they must be making thousands of pounds.

“I have spoken to and heard from other neighbours, and it is causing a lot of stress and misery to any people around here.”

Enfield Council spokesperson Andrew Golder said they are enforcing the law, rather than trying to squeeze cash out of motorists.

He said: “The box junction at the corner of Carterhatch Lane and the A10 is designed to maintain a smooth traffic flow along Carterhatch Lane.

“It is certainly not there to make money and any motorists who feel they have received a penalty charge notice in error have the right to appeal."