CCTV could be used to enforce new housing estate bus gate

Developer David Wilson Homes is planning to build the bus gate at its new Kingfisher Meadows estate, off Holt Road, in 2020.

It will be used to connect the estate with the neighbouring Butterfly Mill development and ensure only buses can use it.

A consultation carried out by David Wilson Homes determined that residents preferred to see the bus gate enforced by a rising bollard system.

But Norfolk County Council said rising bollards elsewhere in the county had proved to be unreliable and requested that a CCTV system is used instead.

At a Broadland District Council planning committee meeting in April, members agreed for the council's head of planning to approve the bus gate and CCTV system.

Councillors were told that Norwich City Council had agreed to monitor the enforcement CCTV cameras and record any contraventions.

However, they asked who would receive the money from any penalty notices served to drivers incorrectly using the bus lane.

Council officers said this would have to be discussed with the developer and CCTV operators.

Members were told that without a bus gate, traffic from 384 homes on the two developments would "likely" access Mill Lane, and in turn, drive in front of Horsford Primary School.

A report that went before councillors in April said: "The provision of an effective bus gate therefore is essential so that general traffic from the second phase [of Kingfisher Meadow] uses the access provided on Green Lane."

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes said: "As such, in agreement with the county council, we are now looking at alternatives to best enforce the bus gate and designs for signage and a CCTV camera system are being prepared.

"The county council has extensive experience of using CCTV across the county. The CCTV uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition on site to detect an offence.

"The bus gate will be installed 2020."