New Nottingham cameras to catch unsafe drivers as Victoria Embankment bollards to be removed

Wooden bollards at Nottingham's Victoria Embankment, with a red and white strip on the top
-Credit:Marie Wilson/Reach PLC


New Nottingham City Council traffic cameras are going live to catch drivers who are "creating a significant risk of serious injury" around Nottingham Trent University buildings and the Victoria Embankment. The city council was first given enforcement powers in 2023 which were previously held by Nottinghamshire Police.

The new powers mean the council can now punish drivers committing certain traffic offences, with fines of up to £70 possible. The city council first confirmed in 2024 that it was spending £600,000 on new ANPR cameras in four locations as part of their new powers, with the money coming from cash collected by the council through bus lane fines.

Cameras in the first two locations will now be going live on Monday (February 10). The cameras will detect drivers using two stretches of road that are meant to be pedestrianised areas.

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One location is a section of the Victoria Embankment which includes the stretch in front of the war memorial. The council previously installed rows of bollards around the embankment to stop car journeys, but they will now be removed after the cameras are installed.

Efforts to reduce traffic along the Victoria Embankment first began in 2020, when the city council used government funding to close off the road as a thoroughfare between Queen's Drive and Trent Bridge. The move was part of a nationwide push during the coronavirus pandemic to encourage more walking and cycling and Nottingham City Council eventually confirmed it was making these traffic reduction measures permanent, claiming they had removed 4,000 car journeys a day.

The other location where cameras will go live on February 10 is the pedestrian friendly section of Shakespeare Street from its junction with Goldsmith Street, around Nottingham Trent University buildings including the Boots Library. During the first six months of the cameras going live, drivers will receive a warning letter if they break the law, moving to a penalty charge notice of £70.

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That fine will be reduced to £35 if it is paid within 21 days. The council says all money received from these fines will be spent on the scheme, such as maintenance to camera equipment or improving the highway.

Neghat Khan, Nottingham City Council's leader, said: "I'm pleased that Nottingham City Council, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, are now rolling out ANPR cameras to help us enforce against moving traffic offences, which will help us to take action to make roads safer.

"Our aim in taking on moving traffic powers and enforcement is to address poor or dangerous driver behaviour and better manage our highway network. Thanks to our consultation held in 2022, we know that residents want safer streets and for drivers to be held accountable when they break the law."

The city council previously confirmed that it would eventually be rolling out ANPR cameras at two further locations. These will stop motorists from making U-turns at Maid Marian Way's junction with Friar Lane and from turning right onto Arkwright Street from the junction of Sheriffs Way and Queens Road.