Council to implement powers relating to moving traffic

Cheshire West and Chester Council hopes to implement enforcement powers for moving traffic offences later this summer, to tackle congestion and disruption on the road network.

The Government’s Department for Transport’s (DfT) has now instigated Part Six of the Traffic Management Act 2004.  This gives local authorities enforcement powers over contraventions such as making banned turns and stopping in yellow boxes at junctions.

In England, these contraventions are currently largely enforced by the police except in London where councils already have these powers.

Initially, the Council will undertake six weeks of awareness raising regarding the new powers and provide details of hot spot areas in the borough where mobile CCTV cameras will be used.  The cameras in these locations will capture moving vehicles that break the rules and Penalty Charged Notices (PCNs) could then be issued to the owner of the vehicle.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “Section 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 will give the Council powers to make the borough’s roads safer and less congested for all road users.

“Powers to enforce against moving traffic offences, such as banned turns, weight restricted roads and yellow box junctions will help to keep local roads moving and make our air cleaner.  The purpose of these powers is to better enforce existing restrictions, not to introduce new restrictions at this stage.

“We will also do all we can to ensure drivers are aware that enforcement is being undertaken at hot spot locations.”

Following the six-week awareness raising phase, the Council will submit a formal application to Government for the new powers in May 2022.  It is also planned that drivers will only be issued with an PCN on their second offence during the first six months the cameras are in operation.  First offences will then result in fines after that period.

Information regarding the hot spot locations currently being considered is available here:

Council’s website.

Anyone wishing to suggest locations where moving traffic enforcement should take place can email:

parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

...or in writing to:

Parking Services, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 0BE.