Views invited on new traffic offences enforcement powers

An upcoming change in legislation by the Department for Transport (DfT) means that powers used previously only by the police will soon be available to a limited number of councils – and Buckinghamshire wants to be one of the first to take advantage of the opportunity.

Moving traffic offences include ignoring ‘no entry’ or ‘no left/right turn’ signs, driving in bus or taxi routes or other places where motor vehicles are prohibited, entering yellow box junctions without the exit being clear, stopping on school keep clears, or driving the wrong way up one-way streets. Councils adopting the powers will be able to use devices such as ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to enforce moving traffic contraventions and encourage road users to follow the rules of the road.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“We consider this to be a significant opportunity and a real benefit to residents in helping to promote safety and reduce congestion. Adopting these powers means we can take appropriate action against road users who ignore measures designed to keep us all safe and prevent traffic congestion. Being one of the first local authorities to do this outside London is important to Buckinghamshire Council, as we are committed to improving our roads and footways and keeping them flowing freely, including investing £100m this year and over the next three years towards this goal.”

The new enforcement powers would apply across Buckinghamshire and add to the powers the council already has to address dangerous or illegal parking. Examining road safety reports and historical data, the council, in collaboration with Thames Valley Police, has created a list of locations that have been identified as areas where these new powers would be useful. The list of locations is provided below and the council welcomes your views:

1. Amersham – Gore Hill - No right turn out of Fieldway on to Gore Hill
2. Amersham – Whielden Lane A404 - No right turn into Whielden Street
3. Amersham – Amersham Road (A413) junction with Pipers Wood - No U-turn
4. Aylesbury – Mandeville Road - No right turn into private road (back of Asda near hospital)
5. Buckingham – High Street at the junction with Moreton Road A413 (running parallel to A422) - No entry
6. Buckingham – Well Street - Environmental weight restriction - Prohibition of goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 T
7. Chalfont St Peter – Oval Way outside Thorpe House School - School keep clear
8. Chesham – High Street - Pedestrian zone - Prohibition of motor vehicles except loading for commercial vehicles
9. Gerrards Cross – Packhorse Road junction with Station Road - Box junction
10. High Wycombe – Corporation Street - Prohibition of vehicles except buses and taxis (Hackney carriages only)
11. High Wycombe – Hamilton Road outside The Royal Grammar School - School keep clear
12. High Wycombe – Marlow Hill junction with School Close - Box junction
13. High Wycombe – Castle Street - No entry except for buses
14. Wexham – Uxbridge Road at the junction with Black Park Road - No U-turn

A six-week consultation begins today (21 February) online at YourVoiceBucks through a short questionnaire. Views can also be sent to [email protected] or posted to Moving Traffic Offences Consultation, Parking Services, Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

The council’s Cabinet will consider feedback and decide whether to give the formal go ahead for the application to DfT on 10 May 2022, with the new enforcement powers potentially being available to the council to use later in the year.