From Monday, motorists in Somerset will encounter new traffic camera enforcement as part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce congestion in Bath and Keynsham. Bath and North East Somerset Council has announced that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will begin monitoring existing traffic restrictions from 24 August.
To help drivers adapt to the new system, a six-month warning period will be implemented at each camera location. During this time, first-time contraventions will result in a warning notice rather than an immediate Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
These measures form part of the council’s ongoing Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, with the aim of improving compliance with traffic restrictions. Council representatives emphasise that such enforcement supports safer streets and better conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, while also helping to alleviate traffic congestion.
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Cllr Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, stated: “The existing restrictions address specific safety and traffic management concerns. Enforcing them consistently is crucial to reducing risks and delays.”
The council’s enforcement powers include monitoring yellow box junction violations, banned turns, commercial vehicle weight limits, and mandatory cycle lane usage. It is noted that speeding offences remain under police jurisdiction.
Any revenue generated from PCNs is legally regulated; after covering enforcement costs, any surplus funds must be invested back into transport-related initiatives such as road safety improvements, public transport, and infrastructure for walking, wheeling, and cycling.