Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are now subject to stricter enforcement on weight-restricted roads across Wandsworth, with drivers facing £160 fines for ignoring signs. Wandsworth Council has launched a CCTV crackdown targeting residential streets where residents have raised concerns about oversized vehicles.
New Rules and Penalties
The council is focusing on areas in Southfields, Putney, Earlsfield, Battersea and Tooting, where evidence of non-compliance has been identified. Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) of £160 are issued after roving CCTV cars capture the number plate, date and time of vehicles failing to comply with signs prohibiting vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.
In June 2026, the council issued 29 PCNs, and drivers are warned that this number will increase as monitoring and enforcement action accelerates this summer.
Council's Justification
Councillor Daniel Hamilton, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Weight restriction road signs are there for a purpose - to protect residents and road surfaces from vehicles that are too big and heavy for local streets. Residents are rightly concerned about HGVs damaging parked cars and putting pressure on smaller roads which leads to damage and potholes. So we’re stepping up our CCTV monitoring and issuing penalties to more drivers who break the rules and put people and roads at risk.”
Enforcement Process and Exceptions
Footage from the CCTV cars is reviewed by the council to confirm a contravention and check whether the vehicle is classified as an HGV before a PCN is issued. HGVs are permitted to enter weight-restricted roads where access is required, for example to make deliveries or access premises. The council will regularly review the level of non-compliance on borough streets and consider additional measures if needed.
