Camera enforcement will begin next Monday 19 October at the junction of Above Bar Street, New Road and Civic Centre Road to reduce congestion and improve journey reliability and road safety in the city centre.

Both the yellow box junction and the bus gate are set to be enforced to keep traffic moving efficiently through one of Southampton’s busiest junctions, improve road safety, especially at what is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the city and support more reliable bus journeys through the city centre.

The yellow box junction at Above Bar Street, New Road and Civic Centre Road has been in place for many years and is intended to prevent vehicles from blocking the junction and delaying other road users. Drivers must not enter the yellow box unless their exit road or lane is clear.

Camera enforcement will also begin at the Above Bar Street (south) bus gate, where access is restricted to buses, cycles and authorised vehicles. The restriction helps buses move through the city centre more efficiently and supports more reliable public transport journeys.

The council recently simplified the restrictions in this area by replacing the previous timed pedestrian zone with a 24-hour bus, cycle and authorised vehicles only restriction, following public consultation.

For six months, when a contravention is detected, a Warning Notice will be issued, and on a second contravention a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days) will be issued. Warning Letters and PCNs will be sent through the post to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle. After the six-month warning period, contraventions will only receive a PCN.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “These restrictions are in place to help people travel around Southampton safely and efficiently, but we know that some drivers continue to ignore them, leading to unnecessary congestion and delays at key points in the city centre.

“By introducing camera enforcement, we can improve safety for everyone, keep traffic moving through this busy junction and help deliver more reliable journeys for bus passengers. Ultimately, this is about making it easier, safer and more convenient for everyone who travels through Southampton, whether they are travelling by bus, bike, on foot or by car.”