CONFUSION over whether drivers are permitted to take a u-turn in a road has forced the council to suspend the use of a new CCTV camera.

Residents of the Hill Farm estate in South Woodford have for some time turned around in Clayhall Avenue to access Charlie Brown’s roundabout from Southend Road.

This is because drivers are not permitted to take a right out of the estate and say they would be forced into a lengthy detour if they didn’t perform the manoeuvre.

But drivers started receiving fines after being caught by CCTV installed in the last two weeks near the junction with Claybury Broadway.

Residents are angry that the surveillance was set up without warning and have questioned whether the restriction is being enforced properly.

A sign in Claybury Avenue warns drivers that u-turns are not permitted.

But residents say the area they are using to turn is outside the restricted zone, which was specified by a sign knocked down during an accident and never replaced.

The use of the CCTV camera has now been suspended while a review requested by Councillor Gwyneth Deakins, of Roding ward, is carried out.

She said: “It’s a disgrace and I have never had so many people phoning and emailing me about an issue. It’s got people really up in arms.”

“There’s no end to the U-turn zone so it could extend all the way up to Barkingside, the council haven’t told us.

“It seems a totally draconian measure to charge people and is completely underhand to do so without informing them.”

Resident Ayyaz Miraz, of Summit Drive, has received four £60 fines but is refusing to pay.

The 41-year-old, of Summit Drive, said: “They don’t care about people driving better.

“They need money and they think the right way to go about it is to go behind residents’ backs and start charging them.

“I’m angry and annoyed, this was done all of a sudden so none of us had a chance to complain or give our views.”

The council has yet to comment.