Traffic enforcement measures to come into place

The first of 10 new traffic enforcement cameras being introduced in Northampton will go live on Sunday.

West Northamptonshire Council said it would be monitoring a banned right turn on Upton Valley Way East, at its junction with Banbury Lane.

The authority said it would soon be followed by a yellow box junction camera on Weedon Road, at the junction with Spencer Bridge Road, following completion of further testing.

"This is not about catching people out. It's about encouraging people to follow the rules," said Richard Butler, cabinet member for highways and transport at the Reform UK-led authority.

The cameras form part of the council's expansion of traffic enforcement.

It said previous enforcement had seen more than 80% of motorists who received a penalty charge notice avoid committing a further offence.

Other locations that have been commissioned for enforcement include a banned turn on Collingwood Road, at the junction with St Matthew's Parade, and four yellow box junctions - including on Cliftonville Road, at the entrance to Northampton General Hospital.

As with its previous roll-outs of enforcement sites, the council said for the first six months anyone committing a first offence would receive a warning rather than a fine.

The enforcement will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, with every recorded contravention reviewed by a trained officer.

"Restrictions like banned turns and yellow boxes are there for a reason," Butler added. "When drivers ignore them, they can cause unnecessary congestion and delays, and create risks for other road users.

"We've already seen that enforcement can change behaviour, with most drivers who receive a penalty not going on to offend again. That's what we want to see from these new locations too."

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