Southampton City Council is preparing to bring in camera enforcement of the bus gate and yellow box junction at Above Bar Street, New Road and Civic Centre Road and the bus gate at Cooper's Lane, Woolston

Above Bar Street plays an important role in helping people travelling by bus move efficiently through the city centre, while the yellow box junction is intended to keep drivers flowing and prevent vehicles from blocking key movements at one of Southampton's busiest junctions. Similarly, Cooper's Lane supports buses to cross the Itchen Bridge in a direct way, making people's bus journeys through this busy area more reliable.

Due to reports of vehicles contravening these restrictions, we carried out traffic surveys at:

• Above Bar Street looking at the previous restrictions and the yellow box junction
• Cooper's Lane in Woolston, looking at the bus gate that leads onto Itchen Bridge

These surveys showed a significant level of non-compliance with the restrictions in these areas, highlighting the need for additional enforcement.

In addition, earlier this year, we asked for your views on a simplification of the mix of restrictions that apply on Above Bar Street, including replacing the 8am-6pm pedestrian zone and related restrictions with a 24-hour bus, cycle and authorised vehicles only restriction. We also asked about banning motor vehicles from going between Ogle Road and Above Bar Street.

Of the responses received, there was a significant level of support for the proposals and the council has gone ahead with these changes which will make it easier for drivers to follow the restrictions at Above Bar Street.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "These restrictions are in place to keep people moving safely and efficiently around Southampton but reports from local people and our subsequent surveys show that too many drivers have continued to ignore them.

"The new cameras are there to help ensure the existing rules are followed, making journeys more reliable for bus passengers, reducing unnecessary congestion and improving safety for everyone travelling through these areas."

The date that camera enforcement will begin at each location will be announced in due course.