Southampton motorists face fines from March over city centre road closure

Thousands of cars are still using the restricted road, the council said

Car drivers who use a new bus, taxi and cycle zone in a city centre will face fines from March, a council has said.

Part of Portland Terrace in Southampton was closed to cars in November.

However, thousands of motorists are continuing to ignore the restriction every day, Southampton City Council said.

Enforcement cameras will go live on 26 February and the first £70 penalty charge notices could be sent out two weeks later, the authority added.

An artist's impression of the bus hub and park which are being built next to the restricted zone

The zone was introduced to make bus and taxi journeys quicker and protect pedestrians and cyclists, the council previously said.

Next to the zone, two car parks have been closed to make way for a bus hub and a small park overlooking the historical city walls.

The council said it would initially post warning notices to car drivers who flout the rules.

The zone will make bus journeys quicker, the council said

On their second contravention, not less than two weeks after the first one, they would be sent a fine of £70, which would be halved if paid within 21 days.

The fines would pay for running of the camera system and any surplus would be reinvested into Southampton's transport network in accordance with national legislation, the authority added.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, in charge of transport, said: "We need to support a better bus provision for both residents and visitors... so that journeys will become easier for all road users."

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