By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
New cameras designed to help catch and fine motorists breaking driving regulations will be installed at four Nottingham city locations.
The city council says it will spend £600,000 over three years to install the new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which will be backed by enforcement powers.
One of the cameras will be positioned at the junction of Sheriffs Way, Queen’s Road and Arkwright Street in a bid to better prevent banned right and left turns.
“Turning vehicles are in direct conflict with a green man pedestrian phasing, creating a significant risk to road users and causes unnecessary congestion on Queen’s Road,” a council report on the plan says.
Extra cameras will also be installed on Maid Marian Way, at the junction with Friar Lane, to prevent U-turns, as well as in Shakespeare Street, from the junction with Goldsmith Street, to stop motorists driving in a pedestrian-friendly area on Nottingham Trent University’s city campus.
Finally, cameras will be installed at a point on the Victoria Embankment, where driving is banned, from a point in line with Wilford Suspension Bridge in a north westerly direction.
All the areas already have the regulations in place, but they can currently only be enforced by Nottinghamshire Police officers spotting offences taking place.
“The infrastructure will support highway safety, which is a key component of the new powers,” documents add.
Motorists caught by the new cameras face a fine of £35 if paid within 21 days, rising to £70 if paid any later.
The council says a public consultation in 2022 showed 73 per cent of 345 people who responded said the new powers were a good idea.
The money for the new cameras will come from income left over from the fining of motorists caught driving in bus lanes or stopping on red routes elsewhere in the city.
This account currently has a surplus of £3,026,175.