Kent County Council is planning to use ANPR cameras to get tough on motorists who travel through Maidstone’s pedestrianised are.
Private vehicles entering “bus-gate” lane in King Street, heading onto the High Street, will be the first to get a fine.
In spring 2022 KCC held a public consultation about possible sites where to use ANPR cameras for traffic enforcement. Although Maidstone's High Street was not included in this first tranche of sites MBC Cllr Garten urged KCC to have a look at Maidstone’s Pedestrian Area.
Shortly after having been appointed as MBC’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services he had the opportunity to reiterate his request to KCC and the Police at a multi agency Town Centre Sub Group Meeting.
Subsequently, the Police conducted a few enforcement sessions and stopped unauthorised drivers.
Further lobbying at the August Joint Transportation Board, a joint committee of KCC and MBC Councillors, saw Cllr Garten’s request being included into the their work programme by unanimous vote.
The MBC Conservative Group is delighted to see the ANPR Enforcement coming to Maidstone Town Centre and would like to thank Kent County Council for their work and speedy response.
Cllr Garten says: “Although buses, taxis and disabled drivers are rightfully exempt to traverse King Street and High Street, many non-exempt motorists flagrantly ignore the prohibition and use it as short cut while driving at inappropriate speeds. Pedestrian neither have a feeling of comfort nor safety, which they ought to expect in a pedestrianised zone and all too often prohibited drivers instil fear in pedestrians or even cause collisions with them”.
