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Leicester City Council calls for Knighton residents to share opinions on camera enforcement
Leicester City Council are looking to hear residents’ opinions on the proposed camera enforcement on Northfold and Eastcourt Road in Knighton, Leicester.
The two roads which border Overdale Infant and Junior School have caused a significant amount of traffic congestion in the area, due to an increase in the number of cars on the roads. In 2021, the council's previous consultation highlighed that Knighton had seen a steady increase in traffic levels over the past ten years.
“Residential streets, in particular, have been badly affected, with up to 75 per cent of traffic being ‘through traffic’ and part of the school run in some areas such as Northfold Road,” it said.
In an attempt to reduce the problem, Leicester City Council introduced restrictions without camera enforcement in an initial trial in February 2022. It consisted of signposting to prohibit access to most vehicles during school run times – from 8 am until 9am and then from 2.30pm until 4pm on weekdays. However, the attempt’s success is limited as drivers continue to violate the restrictions regularly.
One Northfold Road resident said: “Parking round here is horrendous. The signposting on planters was just ignored.”
The council's proposal for the two Knighton roads forms part of its new powers to use camera enforcement to deal with moving traffic offences. The new powers were first used by the council in May 2024, at two yellow box junctions close to St Margaret's bus station. For the initial period of six months, first offences caught by the cameras on the two junctions result in a warning notice. Subsequent offences result in a penalty charge notice.
If plans go ahead and cameras are installed on Northfold and Eastcourt Road, the council believes air quality, traffic congestion and road safety will be improved for the local community.
An Eastcourt Road resident said: “I’m all for it. It’s unreasonable to expect people [wardens] to stop cars coming through, as they get abuse and are ignored. The only concern is whether the camera enforcement will push the traffic further out.”
A common problem we found among residents is cars blocking their driveways. Another Eastcourt Road resident said: “It’s a shame, but it is a good idea. It’s a shame that a minority of parents does not respect the neighbourhood. There are constant issues with blocking the driveway."
“Personally, I think it’s a good idea as there is constant traffic during school times. For me, it’s a health and safety concern with kids running to school,” said a Northfold Road resident whose house overlooks both streets.
Another resident who is currently trying to sell his house is repeatedly asked by potential buyers about the traffic during school times. He believes the camera enforcement is a good idea, but “there are some plot holes to it as they are going to have to be flexible when parents are dropping kids off when it’s raining, etc.”
One resident said Leicester City Council had visited to ask her opinion. She told us what she told them: “I think the cameras will be very restrictive, especially when residents have family, friends, or workmen visiting. But something does need to be done, but I just do not know what.”
Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for transport and environment, said: “Camera enforcement can be a very effective way of deterring motorists from committing traffic offences that are dangerous or obstructive for other road users.
“That’s why we’re considering introducing these measures to help enforce restrictions on two school streets close to Overdale infant and junior schools. The restrictions here were introduced following feedback from residents and families at the schools, and we must do whatever we can to discourage people from ignoring them.”
“We’re keen to hear people’s feedback on plans to introduce camera enforcement on these two streets during busy school run times, and I would encourage people to take part in the consultation.”
The public consultation will run until Sunday, 15 September. For more information, or to take part, you can do so here.
This article was updated on Tuesday, 23 July 2024. A previous version did not highlight the cause of congestion on the two roads which border Overdale Infant and Junior School.
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