Enfield Council and other local authorities in England now have the power to use CCTV cameras to enforce against drivers who park or load illegally in cycle lanes.
The powers came into force on 22 June, which will mean Enfield Council can issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) to anyone who flouts the rules and endangers the safety of cyclists.
Councils are redistributing road space to encourage more people to cycle and walk, rather than use public transport or cars. Enfield is already way ahead of other areas, having built over 19 miles of high-quality cycle routes along key corridors.
This has been critical as the country slowly moves out of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and people are being encouraged to choose more active forms of travel. Until now, local authorities’ ability to take action against those parking up in cycle lanes has been hampered.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Guney Dogan, said: “There have been concerns that as lockdown eases, our roads will be clogged by vehicles. Luckily, in Enfield, we have a fantastic network for cycling, enabling people to get safely across the borough. However, we also need to make sure that the lanes are clear. The selfish few who think they can park in or across them had now better watch out. We will not hesitate to issue PCNs if you are caught by our mobile CCTV teams."
Enfield Council has been working hard to make Enfield’s town centres, high streets and major roads safe and accessible as more premises open and people venture out. This includes making pavements temporarily wider and creating more pedestrianised spaces. To find out more about how Enfield Council has been adapting its services, go to www.enfield.gov.uk/covid19.