Fines issued at a yellow box junction in Hornchurch almost tripled in the first six months of the Gallows Corner closure, compared with the same period before.
New data has revealed that Havering Council handed out 3,376 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to drivers for stopping in the yellow box junction in Ardleigh Green Road between July and December 2025.
This is almost triple the number issued in the six months before Gallows Corner closed for works, which stood at 1,158.
Depending on when the fines were paid - PCNs of this type are £160 or £80 if paid within two weeks - the council could have made anywhere between £270,080 and £540,160 just on this junction in the second half of 2025.
This income is almost three times the potential amount earned in the six months prior to the Gallows Corner closure of up to £185,280.
The spike in fines, uncovered via a Freedom of Information request, has been called "deeply unfair" by Harold Wood councillors, who said they have "repeatedly raised concerns" about the junction to council officers.
Cllr Brian Eagling, Cllr Martin Goode and Cllr Darren Wise, part of the Harold Wood Hill Park Residents' Association, said: "This sharp rise in fines is deeply unfair to motorists and cannot be justified.
"We will be urging the new administration, taking office in May, to conduct a thorough review of all yellow box junctions in the borough to ensure they are not designed in a way that sets drivers up to fail so easily."
Concerns about the Ardleigh Green Road yellow box junction were first raised at a council meeting in July 2025, however Cllr Barry Mugglestone, deputy mayor and cabinet member for environment, confirmed that enforcement would continue during the Gallows Corner works.
At another meeting in January, Cllr Christine Vickery urged a rethink of this decision, especially given the delays to the project.
However, Cllr Mugglestone said removing the enforcement cameras would "cause more problems".
Havering Council confirmed it has visited Ardleigh Green Road and reviewed the road's traffic conditions, but has "not identified any evidence that the current enforcement arrangements are unsafe or inappropriate".
A council spokesperson said: "We recognise that the closure of Gallows Corner has created additional pressure on the local road network.
"The council has continued to press Transport for London for the earliest possible completion of these works, and we are pleased that TfL has now confirmed that diversions are expected to be removed from the network when the flyover reopens at the end of April.
"Yellow box markings help prevent vehicles from blocking junctions and are important for keeping traffic moving safely, particularly during periods of congestion.
"As with all traffic enforcement locations, we will keep the junction under review, including after Gallows Corner reopens, to ensure it continues to operate safely and effectively."
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