Salford council will install CCTV cameras to catch and fine drivers breaking the rules at problem ‘hot spots’ across the city – but insists the move is not a ‘cash cow’.
Motorists who are caught on camera taking banned turns, yellow-box blocking, or making incursions into spaces for cyclists could be hit in the pocket once the scheme has been rolled out.
The move was discussed at a meeting at Salford Civic Centre today (July 28), with the council agreeing to award a contract for the supply and maintenance of the new CCTV cameras over the next five years.
Coun Mike McCusker, Salford council’s lead member for transport, said: “Some people just think this is a cash cow, but it’s not, it’s about improving the flow of traffic.”
Locations chosen for enforcement measures include:
- Chapel Street/Trinity Way – yellow box and banned movements
- Regent Road/Oldfield Road – yellow box and banned movements
- Chorley Road/Civic Centre Access – yellow box blocking
- Chapel Street/Oldfield Road/Adelphi Street – banned turns
- Irwell Street/Trinity Way – yellow box and banned movements
- Blackfriars Street, near Chapel Street – cycle facility incursion
- Blackfriars Road/Silk Street – cycle facility incursion
A report stated that each of the areas was chosen because of ‘known problems which have a knock-on effect of congesting the network locally.’
When a driver is caught on camera breaking the rules of the road, a clip of the incident will be assessed by the council to decide whether to take action.
In July 2023, the council was given powers by the government to hand out fines for certain ‘moving traffic offences’ in the city.
This was part of a bid to allow local authorities to enforce the road network themselves and get on top of issues in problem areas.
The cost of buying the CCTV cameras and maintaining them over the next five years is set to cost more than £500,000 in total, but this will be funded with cash from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement programme.
