Ipswich: Sites revealed for new traffic enforcement cameras

The go-ahead has been given for a £160,000 automatic number plate recognition cameras project - with four sites in Ipswich chosen for the pilot.

The main drivers behind the recommendations were the delays and challenges faced by bus drivers where other vehicles obstruct their routes.

The sites earmarked for an initial pilot project include areas of Ipswich where motor vehicles are prohibited: Dogs Head Street, Upper Brook Street and Fore Street.

The fourth pilot site is a bus gate at Old Norwich Road, just outside the Ipswich boundary and in Mid Suffolk. The roads were identified through a partnership with bus operators.

Following approval by the Department for Transport, the council would be able to add further sites without another application. They would need to carry out a consultation with affected people first.

The initial cost of the pilot is expected to be around £160,000 as each spot would need at least two cameras and each camera costs approximately £20,000.

For an initial six-month period, warning notices would be issued without fines to every first-time offender.

Any surplus in money made through fines would be earmarked to be spent on traffic-based measures in Suffolk.

The final vote by cabinet members was unanimous, although some councillors outside the cabinet were unconvinced that the costs were justified – including Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group of councillors.

He suggested technology to deter offences by flashing a driver’s number plate up on a screen could work better than issuing fines.

Councillor Paul West (Image: Archant)

Paul West, the cabinet member for operational highways who brought the item to cabinet, assured councillors that all signage would up to date to ensure drivers understand what is expected of them.

Enforcement is expected to start in 2023 or 2024, although this is dependent on when the Department for Transport considers the application.