UPDATE, July 21: Herefordshire Council has apologised for erroneous information it provided in the story below. It has now clarified its position in this story.

Hereford is likely to have so-called new cameras operating within the next few months intended to catch drivers guilty of a range of traffic offences, the county council has confirmed.

Ordinarily, offences like driving the wrong way down a one-way street are the responsibility of the police to enforce. But the Government has recently enabled local authorities to take over such enforcement, though they must gain approval first.

The council already enforces parking restrictions in the county.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson confirmed that new cameras around the city “are part of the new moving traffic enforcement”, though they did not say where they are going up.

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“Due to the recent administration change, the original proposals may change,” the spokesperson added.

The council’s application to take on enforcement powers is currently with the Department for Transport, with approval expected next month, “ready for implementation later in the year”, they said.

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According to the council’s published decision last summer which led to the bid to the DfT, offences which it could enforce include:

  • Going the wrong way down a one-way street;
  • Turning left or right or making a U-turn where banned;
  • Driving in pedestrian zones;
  • Ignoring a no-entry or access-only sign;
  • Stopping on a yellow boxed junction;
  • Driving in cycle- and bus-only routes;
  • Ignoring restricted access or weight limits;
  • Stopping on a school ‘keep clear’ marking.

The council said last year it expected the penalties arising from these to bring in a net income of £59,000 a year.