An expansion of a historic High Street’s “no car” rule has been labelled a “no-brainer” for pedestrian safety despite concerns from some it’s just a “money-making” move.
Medway Council is consulting on whether to increase the existing Saturday no-vehicle restrictions on Rochester High Street between 10am and 4pm to include Sundays and bank holidays.
The move would see automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras enforce the expanded rules, as well as existing rules for no right and left hand turns onto the High Street from the Boley Hill direction.
Some business owners have welcomed the expansion, hoping it will improve safety on the street.
But others have branded it a “money-making” venture and are concerned an increase in fines could hit trade and put off visitors.
Hannah Knowlton, co-owner of Analogue Music in the high street, think it’s a “great idea”.
She said: “I just think that the safety aspect needs to be taken more into consideration.
“I think it’s good for business that the street’s pedestrianised, but we still are getting a lot of cars coming down the street, which can be a little bit problematic.
“So it’s a good idea, but I think the road needs to be physically blocked for it to work properly and while there’s possibly an element of money-making, it’s the trade-off for safety.”
But some are more dubious about the scheme’s intentions.
Stuart Thomas Kemp, director and tutor at The Wooden Mouse School Of French Polishing, is concerned about fines being wrongly issued.
He said: “I’ve had a few tickets. We have customers dropping furniture off in the morning, and picking furniture up.
“In one instance, I turned up, a lady was dropping some work off, and this was at 9.30am. Both cars were ticketed, even though they had their hazard lights on and their boots open, at 9.30am.
“We knew we had to be off the high street by 10am, but we still got tickets. If they’re extending it from Saturday, is it going to basically go against us when customers are dropping off or picking up their furniture?”
The furniture shop boss believes it’s an an “easy way to make money for the council”.
“You know, they’ve got to make money, but sometimes there’s ways of doing it,” he added.
“I don’t think things like PCN cameras on where people are trying to earn a living and shops are open at different times and there’s drop-offs and pickups, that’s not the place to do it, I don’t think.”
But Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab) says those who don’t break the rules have nothing to fear.
He added: “For more than 20 years we’ve had an effective pedestrian zone on Rochester High Street on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm which makes it a much more pleasant place to be for visitors, for people sitting, having a coffee outside a café and also doing some shopping.
“So, it seems to me like a no-brainer to extend that opportunity to Sundays, which are now pretty busy too.
“The ANPR cameras provide clear access for emergency vehicles. That’s the tried and tested method that we’ve used to enforce school streets. We’re enforcing successful red routes. And we’ve been enforcing on a Saturday here for quite some time now, using ANPR cameras.
“The reason we’re putting the cameras in is to enforce the rules. You don’t get a fine if you play by the rules.
“All fines are entirely optional. I’ve said this many times. If you don’t stop on a red route, you don’t get a fine. If you don’t drive down a school street during the restricted hours, you don’t get a fine.
“If you don’t drive down Rochester High Street between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays without authorisation to do so, you won’t have a fine.”
He said suggestions like returning the chains which used to block the High Street or retractable bollards were not a feasible option.
Cllr Paterson continued: “The chains are not coming back, ever. They’re not acceptable as part of a sort of modern traffic regulation and they prevent access for emergency vehicles.
“Bollards are not a cost-free option. If you start digging up roads to install retractable bollards, you’re probably going to have to appoint an archaeologist to look at all the things you’ve just dug up.
“That’s just not cost-effective. It’s just not feasible in an area this historic, with Roman remains and all sorts of strata of archaeology under the ground. So, I’m afraid that’s a non-starter.”
Residents were more positive about the proposals, even though some believe the authority was looking to raise money through fines.
John Sheridan, 61, who lives on the High Street said: “I don’t have any real objections as long as it’s done properly. In my opinion, it’s not being done properly currently. I would like it either all or nothing.
“Regardless what any council says, ANPR cameras are there to make money, everybody understands that.
“The cameras aren’t cheap and the old system of chains across the street have worked perfectly well over the years and I don’t see why we can’t have a simpler approach.
“If you’re going to do it, do it properly and don’t be seen to be making money out of it, because that’s what it seems like.”
But Carol Foley, 62, thinks it’s a good idea to improve safety and will encourage more tourists.
“It does worry me the speed people go, especially if we’ve got grandchildren with us, or if you’ve got a pushchair or if you’re someone in a wheelchair or mobility issues,” she said. “It’s quite a danger.”
Martin Smith, 67, added: “Vehicles do come down here of a weekend and with tourists and it could lead to a nasty accident.
“We tend not to enforce rules as we should do and I think the ANPRs are a good approach.”
Tony Hazel, 75, also thinks it’s a good idea and doesn’t understand the opposition to the cameras.
He said: “It’s a good idea, frankly. I’ve known this place since the early sixties, I was at school here, and I remember it when it was a thoroughfare for traffic. It would be infinitely better if it was pedestrianised.
“I’m not too fussed about the ANPR cameras. I get fed up with people who are concerned about cameras, if you’ve got no concerns about what you’re doing why should you be worried about being on camera?
“Don’t break the rules and you won’t be fined.”
The plans would mean the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to catch those who enter the street when they shouldn’t.
The cameras will also be used to enforce no right or left turn restrictions onto the High Street when coming from the Boley Hill direction, which are already in place.
The consultation began on August 11 and will run for six weeks until September 21.
Previously this restriction was upheld by a chain barrier at the Northgate junction, but in February last year Medway Council removed the chain and said ANPR cameras would be used instead.
The expanded restrictions which have been suggested would see traffic banned on the High Street between 10am and 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
The already installed ANPR camera at the Northgate junction would be additionally used to enforce the new rules as well as the no right and left turns.
Cameras at Crow Lane and Blue Boar Lane would also be utilised for the new restrictions.
A six-month warning period would be in place if the scheme is introduced, meaning for the first instance of motorists using the road during the restricted periods would result in a warning letter.
Any instance following that first warning would see a fine of £35 if paid within two weeks, £70 after that.
Medway Council says any income generated through PCNs would be used to cover the setup costs and reinvested into the Towns’ transport network.
The consultation runs from August 11 to September 21.
