Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to be installed on Eddisbury Road in Ellesmere Port

The Woodlands Primary, in Ellesmere Port, has had a School Street since 2023, restricting vehicles on Eddisbury Road between 8.30am and 9am and 2.45pm to 3.30pm on school days.

School Streets reduce the build-up of traffic outside school gates for local residents and those using the school and creates a safer, healthier, and happier environment for children, families and people in the community.

Following talks with residents and the school, Cheshire West and Chester Council will now install Automatic Number Plate 

Recognition cameras to enforce the traffic restrictions helping to further increase the safety of the primary school children arriving at school.

The cameras will be mounted on lighting columns or new poles, the same equipment is installed at a number of locations in Chester.

Explained Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways:

“These cameras are provided solely for the purpose of moving traffic enforcement and cannot be used for any other purposes. They are not CCTV cameras. Reducing the number of vehicles around the school makes the journey far safer for children and parents. 

“The cameras record clips of vehicles contravening the restrictions, but no other data is kept.  The cameras focus only on the highway restriction and the area surrounding it.  This is then reviewed and if a penalty is issued, any people or other data protected images are blurred.”

The cameras will monitor and check the number plates of vehicles that drive into the School Street area during the hours of operation.  If a vehicle has not been registered for an exemption the registered keeper may receive a Penalty Charge Notice for driving into the area without authorisation.

Residents on the School Street can register a vehicle for exemption (the vehicle must be registered to the home address). Blue badge holders who need access to the street at the restricted times will also be able to apply for the exemption.

Parking restrictions on Eddisbury Road have been in place for over 17 years, this is separate enforcement to the School Street. The School Street is to stop motorised vehicles driving through the restriction within the agreed time zones and has nothing to do with parking.

The new cameras are expected to be installed for the start term in September.