Anti-low traffic neighbourhood campaigners were out in force to warn Croydon drivers of new traffic cameras last weekend.

Planters, which physically stopped drivers entering roads, have been replaced with traffic cameras in nine roads in South Norwood, Broad Green and Addiscombe.

The cameras went live last Friday meaning drivers now face a fine of up to £130 for entering the roads.

Cash made from the fines has to be spent on transport projects.

Locals wearing hi-vis yellow jackets gathered at the junction of Elm Park Road and South Norwood Hill, where one of the new cameras has been installed, to warn drivers of the change.

The change means that residents of surrounding roads are eligible for permits to access the roads but others will be fined for driving on them.

Exemption permits are also available local school staff, blue badge holders and carers, while buses and black cabs are automatically exempt.

The new cameras have been installed at Park Road, Elm Park Road, Dixon Avenue, Albert Road, Derby Road, Sutherland Road, Dalmally Road, Elmers Road and Kemerton Road.

Labour councillor for South Norwood, Louis Carserides, tweeted that members of the Open Our Roads group were “helping residents avoid hefty fines”.

The group was set up in 2020 and campaigns to remove low traffic neighbourhood schemes in the borough.

Cllr Carserides added: “I was told there’s no clarity on grace period, no exemptions for first time offenders and – shockingly – some residents living on affected roads didn’t know about roll-out. Not good enough.”

But the Auckland Road Shape Better Streets group, said bollards would have been preferable to cameras.

The group wrote: “It would be much better to have this entrance filtered with bollards.

"Would allow access for residents and stop rat runners without all the expense of ANPR.”

The new schemes will run for 18 months initially, starting on September 30, and during the first six months objections can be submitted.

The LTNs were first introduced with planters blocking off roads during the lockdowns in 2020.

When the changes were announced, Jason Perry, mayor of Croydon, said: “Since being elected I have listened to local residents to improve the temporary schemes introduced by the previous administration.

"These changes will open up the roads to make sure more residents have access, and to make it easier for emergency services.”