NOTTINGHAM is pioneering a hi-tech camera system to deter drivers who flout city-centre restrictions.

The city council has installed 11 cameras in the Turning Point and Clear Zone areas, around Trinity Square, Milton Street and on roads around the Old Market Square.

The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be the first such system outside London.

The aim of the £90,000 system is to prevent unauthorised vehicles causing congestion and delays to public transport and to create a more pedestrian-friendly shopping environment.

But the cameras will not be operational until at least 2010, when traffic laws change.

Jane Urquhart, the city council's portfolio holder for transport, said: "In Nottingham we believe in public transport.

"We have worked over the years to give priority to public transport and pedestrians in the city centre.

"You can walk from the bottom of King Street and Queen Street right across the city centre without having concern about traffic.

"And that makes the environment so much more pleasant and allows people to use it better."

The police are currently responsible for enforcing the law involving moving traffic. But the council will also be able to enforce the law – and free up more police officers for front line work – when the next part of the Traffic Management Act comes into effect.

This is expected to take 12 to 18 months after consultation, although there has been no indication from the Government yet on when the consultation will start.

This means the earliest Nottingham's ANPR system could be introduced is 2010.

Caroline Stylianou, the city council's service manager for traffic and parking, said the authority would continue to develop the system so it runs smoothly by the time it becomes operational.

She said: "We are doing an awful lot of legwork, making sure the information recorded by the cameras is of sufficient quality and security, so that we can use it to enforce the restrictions.

Areas of concern include motorists driving into bus-only zones in Milton Street and at the top of Goose Gate, in Hockley.

The cameras will be set up to automatically record digital pictures of vehicles when the driver ignores traffic restrictions – such as delivery times or bus lanes.

These images are then checked in the control centre at Lawrence House. If an offence has taken place, a fixed-penalty notice is sent out.

The city council is working on a "white list" – a record of registrations of vehicles that will be exempt, such as buses and emergency service vehicles. This allows the system to flag up only the vehicles it does not recognise. Unlike the ANPR cameras used by police, it is not planned to be linked to the national police database.

The level of fine handed out under the new system has not yet been decided but current charges for bus lane infringements are £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

Parking offences caught on CCTV are £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

Ian Nash, team leader for traffic management at the city council, said people who obeyed the rules of the road would have nothing to fear.

He said: "It is the duty of people to read and make sure they understand traffic signs.

"But some people are blatantly ignoring signs."

He said the extra enforcement through the cameras would help reduce infringements and make Nottingham a better place to visit.

jon.robinson@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk