Stone High Street Camera Enforcement Delayed by County Council

Staffordshire County Council has delayed a decision on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement for Stone High Street, despite a motion calling for urgent action at the full County Council meeting on 8 October.

Stone Urban councillor Jill Hood presented the motion, asking the council to progress powers needed to enforce moving traffic restrictions, make Stone High Street a priority location, and work with Stone Town Council over £30,000 it has allocated towards the camera scheme.

However, Councillor Peter Mason, the county council's cabinet member for strategic highways, said the authority must first consider how such powers could be used across the entire county before proceeding.

Why enforcement matters

Stone High Street is intended to be closed to vehicles between 10am and 4.30pm, with access permitted outside restricted hours for traders loading and unloading goods. Drivers ignoring this restriction have prompted safety concerns for several years.

Councillor Hood said vehicles use the High Street as a shortcut around Christchurch Way, to collect takeaways, and to park near businesses. She noted that previous police operations and short-term enforcement initiatives have raised awareness but have not delivered lasting change in driver behaviour.

"A restriction that is not consistently enforced will continue to be ignored," Councillor Hood said, adding that camera enforcement would provide a "practical, proportionate and sustainable solution" using photographic evidence to issue Penalty Charge Notices.

Next steps

Councillor Mason said officers have been asked to investigate the issue before a decision is made on whether Staffordshire should seek the powers. He asked councillors to vote against Hood's motion, saying he did not want the council to predetermine the outcome of the officers' work.

If the council decides to proceed, an initial application to the Department for Transport could be made during the first part of 2027. Stone could then be considered, along with other locations, as part of a trial scheme.