You may have noticed a number of new cameras popping up across parts of Herefordshire over recent weeks, just like the above on Commercial Road.
It’s thought that they are part of new traffic enforcement that will come into force in Herefordshire following a change in Government Policy.
Herefordshire Council announced last year that it had submitted an application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for new moving traffic enforcement (MTE) powers.
The new powers will enable the council to carry out some enforcement of specified moving traffic offences, helping to improve safety and congestion, and encourage active travel.
In July 2020, Government announced plans to improve cycling and walking uptake across the country. As part of this strategy, the Department for Transport (DfT) have begun the process to enable new regulations to provide for Local Authorities to enforce moving traffic contraventions.
Enforcement will be provided through approved camera devices that can detect traffic offences, where a trained Civil Enforcement Officer will then administer a Penalty Charge Notice when appropriate. Enforcement for the most serious offences will still be retained by the police.
A public consultation was carried out between 3 March and 15 April 2022, showing strong support for more effective enforcement, particularly near schools.
The two initial sites are at Commercial Road and East Street, and will improve safety, congestion and air quality, and stop the high numbers of vehicles using East Street to rat run.
The proposed sites are based on the history of complaints or incidents in the vicinity, and the Council plans to expand to new sites next year.
Former Cllr John Harrington, former Cabinet member for Infrastructure and Transport, said at the time of the application: “The change in national law now permits Local Authorities to enforce breaches of laws and regulations that previously the police were expected to enforce.
“The intention with any enforcement is to promote compliance with existing restrictions, and the concept behind doing this with cameras is to explore areas in the county where compliance in the past has not been as effective as we would have liked.
“We need to be sensible about how to enforce transgressions, which residents throughout the county regularly express their dissatisfaction over.
“Let’s not forget that people who will get fined are breaking the law or contravening regulations, and a large proportion of those who do it will do so repeatedly because there is no or minimal police enforcement. The change in national law allows us as a Council to step up and do that.
“In the case of moving traffic contraventions such as weight limit breaches or going the wrong way down a one way street, for example, enforcement powers were previously held by the police and an officer would need to witness a driver breaking the rules, stop the vehicle, establish who is driving, and serve them a Fixed Penalty Notice. This process requires investment and resource which, quite frankly, our police forces don’t have anymore.
“The change in the regulations announced by the UK Government will mean that councils will be able to deal with these matters in the same way that it does parking, with the registered owner being held liable and notified via the post. Due to this change, cameras would then become the most effective tool to identify contraventions, ensure maximum compliance and promote safety on our roads, which is ultimately the aim.
“The issuing of penalties will not be automated – all penalties will be reviewed by a trained enforcement officer prior to issue, and there will be an appeals process in place just as there is with parking.”
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 |
