05/05/2023 - Permalink

Council gets powers to enforce driving offences – and implement School Streets programme

Related topics: Children's services / Climate change / environment / Highways, transport and environmental maintenance

Shropshire Council will soon be able to enforce a range of driving offences – and implement its ‘School Streets’ programme – after being granted ‘moving traffic powers’ by the Department for Transport.

Under these powers, the council will – for the first time – be able to issue fines to drivers for offences including: incorrectly driving into a bus lane; stopping in a yellow box junction; banned right or left turns; illegal U-turns; and going the wrong way in a one-way street.

These powers – due to come into effect on 22 July 2023 – have previously been held only by the police.

They will also enable the council to implement and enforce its School Streets programme using ANPR cameras – starting with an 18-month trial at six schools across the county. Any surplus  from enforcement of School Streets will be reinvested back into the School Streets project to enable the continued rollout across the county.

It also means that ANPR cameras can be used to enforce the School Street already in place at Coleham Primary in Shrewsbury – implemented using coronavirus powers.

Richard Marshall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said:

“This is excellent news and means Shropshire Council is on track to be the first rural council with a School Streets programme and the power to enforce moving traffic offences.”

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said:

“This news is very welcome and means that we can shortly begin our School Streets trial at six schools – and enforce the Coleham scheme – then look to roll the programme out to other schools.

“As School Streets restrict traffic outside schools at pick-up and drop-off times, these powers will help us make it safer and easier for children to walk, scoot and cycle to school.”

For more information about School Streets, click here.

Further information

1 – From 31 May 2022, local authorities in England outside of London were able to apply to the Secretary of State for new powers to enforce ‘moving traffic offences’.

2 – Unlike funds raised from speed camera fines, which are transferred to central Government, surplus funds from moving traffic enforcement will be kept by the local authority. The General Provisions SI specifies that any such surplus must be used only for certain purposes:

  • to recoup costs of enforcement;
  • pay for public transport provision;
  • pay for highway improvement projects; or
  • pay for environmental improvements in the authority’s area.

3 – School Streets exemptions. Motor vehicles belonging to the following groups of drivers are eligible for an exemption permit, to enable them to drive in a School Street during the hours of operation:

  • Blue Badge holders.
  • Schools buses and vehicles used in the transport of children and adults with special access needs, including private vehicles, taxies and minicabs declared for such use and registered with the school or with the council.
  • In exceptional circumstances the school may also request a temporary waiver to enable vehicle access for situations such as a pupil with a temporary injury affecting mobility.