Staffordshire County Council will be asked this week to make Stone High Street a priority for ANPR enforcement and set out a clear timetable for introducing it.

County Councillor Jill Hood, who represents Stone Urban, has tabled a motion for the full County Council meeting on Thursday 8 October, according to A Little Bit of Stone.

The motion asks the council’s Cabinet to consider progressing the work needed to obtain moving traffic enforcement powers under the Traffic Management Act 2004, with Stone High Street included as a priority location.

It also calls for the county council to work with Stone Town Council over the £30,000 it has allocated towards an ANPR scheme, complete the necessary technical and legal work, and introduce stronger interim enforcement until cameras can be used.

A vote in favour of the motion would not itself approve or install ANPR cameras. It would ask Cabinet to consider progressing the scheme and provide a timetable for the steps required.

Vehicles are prohibited from entering Stone High Street during restricted hours, but Councillor Hood says drivers continue to enter despite road signs and prominent No Entry markings.

Her motion says vehicles are using the High Street as a shortcut around Christchurch Way, to collect takeaways and to park close to shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants.

It also highlights the number of people using the pedestrian area, including children walking to and from local schools and the leisure centre, older and disabled residents, shoppers, market visitors and customers sitting outside businesses.

Previous police operations and other short term enforcement measures have raised awareness but have not delivered a lasting change in driver behaviour, according to the motion.

(Picture: Mapillary)