Moving Traffic Enforcement Consultation Information

Cheshire West and Chester Council is seeking views on proposals to introduce moving traffic enforcement at additional locations across the borough. Since camera enforcement for moving traffic offences was introduced in 2024, the Council has identified 11 locations where evidence indicates ongoing non-compliance with existing traffic restrictions. If the proposals are taken forward, the Council plans to expand moving traffic enforcement to several new sites selected from the 11 potential locations identified for consultation, initially at the four locations with the strongest overall case for enforcement.

We’d like to hear from residents, businesses, and anyone who lives, works or travels in or around these locations to help inform which locations are taken forward before any decision is made.

What is Moving Traffic Enforcement?

Moving traffic enforcement allows local authorities to enforce certain road traffic restrictions using approved camera technology.

Examples of traffic restrictions include:

• No Entry restrictions
• Banned turns
• One-way streets
• School Street restrictions
• Yellow Box Junctions
• Bus Gates
• Pedestrian Zone restrictions

Enforcement powers are provided by Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and associated regulations.

The restrictions being enforced already exist and are currently enforceable by the Police. Moving traffic enforcement does not create any new restrictions but improves compliance with existing traffic rules.

Why is the Council Expanding Moving Traffic Enforcement?

The proposals to expand moving traffic enforcement are guided by national legislation and Department for Transport guidance.

The primary objectives are:

1. Improving Road Safety

Restrictions are often introduced to prevent dangerous vehicle movements by managing traffic flow and reducing the likelihood of collisions. Effective enforcement helps to ensure compliance with these restrictions, reducing conflict between vehicles, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, protecting vulnerable road users near schools, and discouraging dangerous turning manoeuvres that can create hazards, disrupt traffic flow, and increase the risk of accidents.

1. Reducing Congestion

Illegal vehicle movements can cause unnecessary delays and block key routes, reducing the efficiency of the road network. Improved compliance with traffic restrictions can help keep junctions clear, improve traffic flow, reduce journey times, and enhance overall network resilience, ensuring that the highway network operates more effectively for all road users.

1. Improving Public Transport Reliability

Many traffic restrictions are designed to assist bus movement through the network and support the efficient operation of public transport services. Effective enforcement can help reduce delays caused by non-compliant vehicle movements, improve service punctuality and reliability for passengers, and encourage greater use of sustainable transport options by making public transport a more attractive and dependable choice.

1. Supporting Air Quality

Vehicles delayed in congestion generate additional emissions, increasing the environmental impact of road transport. Improved compliance with traffic restrictions can help reduce congestion and vehicle idling, leading to lower emissions, improved local air quality, and a more efficient transport network that supports wider environmental and public health objectives.

Evidence of Success at Existing Moving Traffic Enforcement Sites

The Council's existing moving traffic enforcement programme has already demonstrated improvements in driver compliance across the borough. Since the introduction of camera enforcement at four locations in 2024, the number of recorded contraventions has fallen substantially, indicating that motorists are adapting their behaviour and complying with the restrictions in place.

A comparison of offence levels recorded during the first four weeks of enforcement in June 2024 with the equivalent four-week period in June 2026 shows reductions at every location, ranging from 41% to 83%. Overall, contraventions across the four sites have reduced from 1,639 offences during the initial monitoring period to 379 offences, representing an overall reduction of 68%.

Individual site performance has been equally encouraging:

• Canal Street / Northgate Street – 71% reduction
• Civic Way / Whitby Road – 41% reduction
• Nuns Road / Grosvenor Road – 76% reduction
• New Crane Street / Nuns Road – 83% reduction

Experience from these locations shows that most drivers adapt to the restrictions once enforcement is introduced, helping to support safer road conditions, reduced conflict between road users and improved traffic management.

The Council considers this evidence an important indicator that moving traffic enforcement can deliver positive behavioural change. The proposed expansion to additional locations seeks to achieve similar benefits where ongoing non-compliance is creating road safety concerns, congestion issues or impacts on the wider transport network. Consultation feedback will help the Council understand any local issues, impacts or evidence that should be considered before deciding which locations are taken forward.

Which new locations have been proposed?

The following 11 locations, where moving traffic restrictions are already in place, were identified as priority sites for public consultation because they demonstrated the greatest potential to deliver improvements in road safety, traffic management or network efficiency through camera enforcement.

How Were These Locations Selected?

When the Council first explored the introduction of moving traffic enforcement in 2022, officers worked alongside Cheshire Police and highway professionals to review locations across the borough where compliance with existing traffic restrictions was known to be a concern. In 2024, moving traffic enforcement was introduced at four locations.

A further assessment in 2026 considered 24 locations and examined several factors including:

• Reported road safety concerns.
• Levels of driver non-compliance.
• Traffic congestion and network performance impacts.
• Collision history and risk to vulnerable road users.
• Public and stakeholder complaints.
• Impacts on public transport operations.
• Whether restrictions could be better enforced through signage, road markings or engineering improvements.

Following this review, the 11 locations in the table above were identified as priority sites. If the proposals are taken forward following the consultation, the Council would plan to introduce camera enforcement at four locations starting in 2026 and at additional locations the following year, working within available resources. Delivery would also be subject to further technical and operational considerations. The remaining locations would be kept under review and may be considered for future implementation, subject to the consultation findings, and available resources.

More detailed information about each proposed location is provided in the proposed site information.

What Happens If Enforcement Is Approved?

Cameras would use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology at each location.

In accordance with Department for Transport guidance:

• Warning notices will be issued for a period of six months for a first contravention following introduction of enforcement.
• The purpose is to educate motorists and encourage compliance.

Potential contraventions are reviewed by trained officers before any action is taken. A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is only issued when a contravention has been confirmed.

Appeals and Challenges

Anyone receiving a Penalty Charge Notice will have the right to:

• Challenge a PCN issued by the Council
• Submit supporting evidence
• Appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal if appropriate

Use of Income

The purpose of enforcement is improved compliance and safer roads.

Legislation places strict controls on how any surplus income can be used.

Any surplus after operating costs would only be used for transport and highway-related improvements including:

• Road safety measures
• Traffic management improvements
• Sustainable transport schemes
• Public transport improvements

Monitoring and Review

If the proposals are taken forward, the Council will monitor:

• Contravention levels
• Road safety outcomes
• Traffic flow impacts
• Public feedback

Success would be measured by improved driver compliance rather than the number of PCNs issued.

How people can share their views

You can share your views by completing the online survey here. You can also respond by email at parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or by writing to Parking Services, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA, or by telephone on 0300 123 8 123 – quoting ‘Moving Traffic Enforcement Consultation’. Paper copies and alternative formats are available on request using the contact details above.

This consultation is open until Wednesday 16 September 2026.

What happens next

Following the closure of the consultation, responses will be analysed and a consultation report prepared. The Parking Management Team will also prepare a summary report with recommendations before a decision on any additional sites is made by directors in consultation with relevant cabinet members.

Consideration will be given to the consultation responses and other factors including road safety, traffic congestion, and compliance levels as well as technical feasibility and equality analyses. The consultation findings and recommendations are expected to be considered during Autumn 2026, with a final decision anticipated shortly after.

A summary of the consultation findings and the reasons for the decision will be published on the Council's consultation webpage following the decision.