Traffic cameras could soon be installed on this busy junction in Hereford, to ensure that motorists aren’t carrying out banned turns.
The Widemarsh Street / City Link Road junction is just one of the roads that Herefordshire Council is hoping to get powers to enforce moving traffic regulations.
Herefordshire Council could soon be given the power to issue fines to motorists for using this junction in Hereford incorrectly, as well as a number of other locations (Full list at bottom of article). Traffic monitoring cameras could be installed, meaning that fines would automatically issued to those deemed to be incorrectly using the junction.
Herefordshire Council has been asking residents for their views on the introduction of measures to enforce moving traffic regulations.
This includes stopping in yellow boxes at junctions, ignoring no-entry signs, making banned turns, contravening ‘access only’ routes and parking on yellow zig-zag lines outside schools.
Traffic regulations act to make the roads safer for all users and to help keep traffic flowing in busy areas.
Changes in Government legislation (implementation in full of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004) mean that councils in England will have control of enforcement powers for moving traffic contraventions, previously held by the police. Measures to enforce moving traffic regulations include the installation of cameras and the issuing of penalty notices.
Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet member transport and infrastructure said: “Road safety for all users, however they travel, is a key concern. Traffic regulations help make roads a safer environment and enable traffic to flow freely. They help increase safety for example by preventing stopping on zig zag lines outside of schools and driving up streets the wrong way, and help traffic flow better by preventing blocking at key junctions.
“We would like to hear from all residents, whether they drive, cycle or walk, for their feedback on driver behaviour and the areas in our towns and City where better enforcement of traffic regulations may be needed.”
In July 2020, the government announced plans to improve cycling and walking uptake in Gear change – a bold vision for cycling and walking.
As part of this strategy, the Department for Transport is changing the way moving traffic contraventions are enforced. Currently, only London and Welsh local authorities have powers to enforce these restrictions by the issue of a penalty charge notice.
The new regulations will be coming into effect in summer 2022, as a result, a number of new contraventions will become enforceable by councils rather than the police.
These new powers will enable enforcement of the following restrictions by camera:
One way streets
Banned turns
Pedestrian zones
No entries
Yellow boxed junctions
Cycle and bus routes
Restricted access/weight limits
Stopping on school keep clear markings
Herefordshire Council has indicated its intention to the Department for Transport to adopt these powers in order to promote a safe environment for all road users and to allow traffic to flow freely.
The locations are also listed in the following table:
| Location: A438 / A49 Junction (Steels), Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: A438 Eign Street / Aldi junction, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: A49 Edgar Street / Tesco roundabout, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: A49 Victoria Street / Barton Road, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: Bewell Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: No entry except access |
| Location: Blueschool Street / Widemarsh Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: No entry except access |
| Location: Blueschool Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: Broad Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: One way |
| Location: City Link Road / Widemarsh Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Banned turns |
| Location: Commercial Road / Stonebow Road, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: Commercial Road / Union Walk, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: Commercial Square (outside The Kerry), Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: East Street, Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: No entry except access |
| Location: High Town (St Peters), Hereford | Vehicle restriction type: No entry except access |
| Location: Holme Lacy Road (Near Goodwin Way) | Vehicle restriction type: Weight restriction |
| Location: Offa Street | Vehicle restriction type: One way |
| Location: Prior Street | Vehicle restriction type: No entry / one way |
| Location: Springfield Avenue / Hunderton Avenue) | Vehicle restriction type: Contravention of no entry / one way |
| Location: Widemarsh / Conningsby Street | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow box |
| Location: Ginhall Lane / Green Lane, Leominster | Vehicle restriction type: Banned turn |
| Location: C1259 from A40, Goodrich | Vehicle restriction type: 7.5t weight limit |
| Location: Knapp Lane, Ledbury | Vehicle restriction type: 3.5t weight limit |
| Location: Town centre (various streets), Bromyard | Vehicle restriction type: 7.5t weight limit |
| Location: All schools | Vehicle restriction type: Yellow no stopping zig zags |
