CCTV cameras to catch and fine road rule breakers

The new cameras are set to be installed at "hot spots" across Salford

New CCTV cameras are set to be installed across Salford in a bid to catch and fine drivers for breaking rules such as taking banned turns, the council has said.

The cameras will be installed at "hot spots" across the city, with the aim of catching motorists who block yellow-box junctions or drive in designated cycling zones.

The move was discussed at a meeting at Saford Civic Centre on Monday, with the council agreeing to award a contract for the supply and maintenance of the new CCTV cameras over the next five years.

Mike McCusker, the council's lead member for transport, said: "Some people just think this is a cash cow, but it's not, it's about improving the flow of traffic."

The locations chosen for the new cameras include:

• Chapel Street/Trinity Way

• Regent Road/Oldfield Road

• Chorley Road/Civic Centre Access

• Chapel Street/Oldfield Road/Adelphi Street

• Irwell Street/Trinity Way

• Blackfriars Street, near Chapel Street

• Blackfriars Road/Silk Street

A report found each of the areas was chosen because of "known problems which have a knock-on effect of congesting the network locally".

Any recorded clip of a driver caught on camera breaking a road rule would be assessed by the council, who will then decide whether or not to issue a fine.

Buying and maintaining the cameras over the next five years is set to cost more than £500,000 in total, and will be funded with cash from the government's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement programme.