Traffic cameras to target illegal parking in city

2 hours ago

Daisy Bodkin,BBC Gloucestershireand

Kathryn Emerson,BBC Gloucestershire

News image — The cameras were first introduced as part of trial, but are now becoming permanent

BBC A quiet high street. There are two signs on the street, one saying "Pedestrian and Cycle Zone" with loading times underneath it and a sign next to it saying "enforcement will commence 1st June 2026". It is a sunny day with a clear blue sky. — The cameras were first introduced as part of trial, but are now becoming permanent

New powers are being enforced to reduce congestion and improve road safety in a city centre.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have gone live on the gate streets of Gloucester to prevent illegal parking and the streets being used as a rat run during the evenings.

For the first six months at each location, drivers who commit an offence will receive a warning letter. After this period, penalties will be issued for continued offences.

Gloucestershire County councillor Roger Whyborn said making roads safer is "essential for residents, businesses and visitors".

The ANPR cameras were first introduced on Gloucester's Gate Streets in January as part of a trial, but are now becoming permanent.

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John Clingan, manager of Farmhouse Deli on Southgate Street, said stricter enforcement will bring fewer people into the town.

"People aren't encouraged to come into Gloucester. They just make it more and more difficult for people to come in by car.

"We need to do something to get people back into the city centre," he said.

A man with a grey beard. He is wearing a checkered blue shirt and green apron. He is standing inside a deli with shelves of packaged meat behind him. — John Clingan thinks stricter rules will stop people from coming into the city centre

The council has also changed loading times for businesses in the city centre.

Previously, loading was permitted between 17:00 -10:00. The new times are now 8:00 -10:00 and 17:00 - 18:00.

Lakshini Pereira, manager of Bom-Bai Boyss on Westgate street said that while a short loading window is usually manageable, it can sometimes be challenging.

"In our case, the suppliers prefer to come in the morning, which is good.

"The only problematic thing is there are some days that the staff can't be here to accept the delivery, but then they have to turn up because they have no choice," she said.

A woman wearing a black star wars shirt and a silver necklace. She is standing outside her restaurant. — Lakshini Pereira says short loading windows can sometimes be difficult

Cameras have also been installed at the Cheltenham Transport hub and in Whitminster at the junction of Grove Lane and the A38.

The county council plans to bring in enforcement at another nine locations in the future in a bid to tackle issues like banned turns and blocking of yellow box junctions.

Whyborn said the new measures aim to reduce congestion and help emergency services and buses get where they need to be more quickly.

"Our focus is on creating a safer, more reliable transport network, and any income raised will be reinvested to benefit local communities," he said.

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