Have your say on plans to enforce moving traffic offences in Bury

Saturday, 26 August 2023 10:45

By David Murphy

Bury Council is planning to apply to the Department for Transport (DfT) for powers to enforce moving traffic offences, and wants to hear the views of residents, businesses and interested parties.

The council wants to use these new powers to improve the borough’s road network and enhance road safety for all users. Local authorities have been able to apply for these new powers since 31 May 2022.

Examples of moving traffic offences that can be enforced include:

Entering a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear
Undertaking banned turns
Driving through a ‘No entry’ sign

Currently, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is responsible for enforcing moving traffic offences in the borough of Bury. If the council took over these responsibilities, it would allow GMP to focus on other policing priorities.

The aim is for Bury Council to expand on the work it already does enforcing against unlawful and dangerous parking and misuse of bus lanes.

Five sites across the borough have been identified for enforcement due to persistent issues at these locations. They were chosen using a scoring matrix that looks at the non-monetary benefits of enforcement and considers factors such as collision data, proximity to schools, proximity to walking and cycling routes and traffic flows. The proposed sites are:

Site 1 - A56 Bury New Road / A6044 Hilton Lane/Scholes Lane, Prestwich
Site 2 - A56 Bury New Road / A665 Bury Old Road/ Higher Lane, Whitefield.
Site 3 - A58 Rochdale Road / A56 Derby Way/George Street, Bury
Site 4 - A56 Manchester Road / A6053 Dumers/Millwood Court, Bury
Site 5 - Moorgate – A56 Walmersley Road / A58 Peel Way/ Derby Way, Bury.

Once powers are granted to Bury Council, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at the five sites to enforce the restriction. ANPR cameras will be signposted in advance of junctions to give drivers sufficient notice of enforcement.

During the first six months of the enforcement, there will an introductory period and warning notices will be issued to motorists in breach of restrictions for their first offence. For any further contravention of the same restriction, a penalty charge notice (PCN) will be issued.

Income from fines will be used to cover the operational costs of carrying out the enforcement and for highway improvement projects, public transport provision and environmental improvements.

How you can have your say

As part of the application to the DfT, a statutory six-week consultation is being held.

The consultation runs from Tuesday 22 August until Monday 2 October.

To give your feedback on the proposed enforcement sites, put forward suggestions for improvements at these sites, and suggest other locations, complete the online survey at:

https://pclengagement-hub.co.uk/en-GB/folders/burymte

Your feedback will help us understand if there are any issues with the five locations that we have identified and help us develop plans for assessing and prioritising future locations within the Bury borough.