Moving cameras set up to catch Essex parents breaking school street bans during pick-up times

A police officer using a mobile speed camera. Stock image
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Parents flouting bans from school streets during drop-off and pick-up times could soon be hit with fines as Southend Council pushes ahead with plans for new enforcement cameras. Ten moving traffic enforcement CCTV cameras outside schools and junctions across the city could be approved as soon as December, senior councillors told a Southend Council place scrutiny committee on Monday.

The cameras can cost between £15,000 to £25,000 or up to £700 per month to operate and maintain. They are usually sited at yellow box junctions and other troublesome junctions, but the council also aims to use them to enforce school streets where traffic is banned during drop-off and pick-up times.

It would allow the council to enforce traffic violations remotely at trouble spots, including Greenways Primary School and Bournes Green Junior School. Speaking at the committee, Kevin Buck, Conservative councillor for Prittlewell ward, said the former administration had applied for the cameras and asked about the progress of the scheme.

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He said: “These would allow fines as they do in London. They allow for various methods of mobile enforcement that is done with traffic camera enforcement that doesn’t require people on the ground.”

Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of the council, said the scheme was on track. He said: “That is now moving and we’ll be getting our orders from the Department for Transport in December so we should be able to start enforcing soon.

“Every school has an issue and every member will be able to name at least one if not more schools in their ward where parking is an absolute nightmare. As much as having moving traffic order cameras and being able to enforce it is going to help, the biggest thing that is going to help is getting people out of their cars and walking their children to school using active means of travel.”

The cameras will be installed at yellow box junctions at Fairfax Drive at the junction with Prittlewell Chase, London Road at the junction with Nelson Road, theA13 at the junction with Elm Road, and A127’s Bell interchange at the junction with Rochford Road.

They will also be situated at no right turns such as Warrior Square at the junction with Chichester Road and the no left turn at A127 Prince Avenue at the junction with A1158 Prince Avenue.