The street is allegedly a "pedestrian cycle zone" but the rules are often ignored
Cameras will stop drivers from cutting through a busy shopping street in South Bristol and flouting a ban on cars. East Street in Bedminster is allegedly a "pedestrian cycle zone" but is often used by drivers as a shortcut to get from West Street or North Street towards town.
Businesses along the shopping street were previously consulted by Bristol City Council about the cameras. The rules apply from 7am to 7pm with exemptions for loading, and in the consultation shops and cafés were asked how a camera would affect them getting deliveries.
Now council bosses have said there was a "holiday period" on the rules, while the main route into the city centre was closed for long roadworks. Green Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of the council, said now this route is back open, cameras could soon be installed to stop drivers.
Cllr Dyer said: "The problem is that it has largely been abused. We're looking at a solution to that involving cameras, so that when people abuse the bus gate then we're actually able to follow up and clamp down on it. It's something that we've been getting a lot of feedback from for a while, both from traders and people working down East Street.
"Also there have been a couple accidents because of cars driving down that area when they shouldn't be. While we were doing some of the work on Bedminster Green, with Malago Road and Dalby Avenue being closed for a while, and one-way for a while, we did have kind of a holiday period for East Street.
"But now that Malago Road and Dalby Avenue are reopened, we have a much better alternative route with bus lanes and a cycle route that's actually flat and where you don't fall over trees. That means that we now can refocus on East Street and start to look at what it should be like, in terms of it being a largely pedestrianised shopping street."
The street is also used by cyclists and is supposed to be a "contraflow" route, meaning that people should ride bikes in the opposite direction to buses, taxis and cars. However there is little space on the narrow road for bikes to pass vehicles, leading to frequent close passes.
Issues on East Street were flagged several times to the council, with little action so far. Three years ago the council approved plans for where cameras should be installed on six dangerous junctions, as part of the roll-out of new powers to fine drivers for "moving traffic offences", such as using banned left turns, for example. But East Street wasn't chosen then for a new camera.
Green Cllr Ed Plowden, chair of the transport policy committee, added: "It's a really good example of us getting on with stuff where there's a crying need. When they were asking for ideas of where we should do our first six moving traffic offences, back under the previous administration, I said East Street was crying out for it. I never got a reply."
It's still unclear when the cameras would be installed. East Street is also due for major changes as part of the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood. This includes upgrading the junctions on either end, with new traffic lights on the southern end at Cannon Street and British Road.