Numberplate cameras could be installed in city

Plans to install Automatic Numberplate Recognition Software (ANPR) cameras will be discussed as a council brings in new traffic rules.

Gloucestershire County Council, in partnership with Gloucester City Council and Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID), says it wants to stop unauthorised parking and drivers using the city centre as a short cut.

An experimental new traffic regulation order (TRO) being introduced in Gloucester is aimed at making sure only authorised vehicles enter gated streets at the appropriate times.

ANPR cameras, which the council will discuss installing at a meeting in January, read and record number plates.

Emily Gibbon, manager of Gloucester BID, said: "We'd love to have a cafe culture in the city centre, with people using their chairs and tables out the front.

"We can't do then when it's a carpark or a cut through."

The gated streets in Gloucester have experienced persistent issues with unauthorised parking and traffic, undermining the safety and character of the area.

Councillor Lisa Spivey, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "By having ANPR cameras we can chase the people up who are not doing what they should do.

"We want our city centre to be a bustling, thriving place."

Installing cameras is part of the councils Moving Traffic Enforcement Project, which aims to improve road safety, promote bus services and active travel, whilst also reducing congestion and pollution.

The TRO will begin early next year and the county council says it wants local residents and businesses to provide feedback as it is rolled out.

One of the restrictions say cars can only stop for 10 minutes for loading and unloading.

Mr Jay Shute, a partner in a local restaurant, said the restrictions are "really unfair" on local businesses.

He added: "It will really affect us because our delivery comes once or twice in a week... and it is a huge delivery. It is not possibly to unload everything within 10 minutes."

Ms Gibbon said: "We will probably have to look at the tweaking of delivery times, at the moment it's set at 10 minutes. I certainly don't think that's long enough."

Information about the order, including how to provide feedback and submit objections, will be available on the county council's website and through public notices.

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