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Moor End Road is back on agenda
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The conundrum of how to stop motorists from illegally driving through the infamous Moor End Road bus lane is once again being examined by highways bosses.
Tens of thousands of drivers were issued with fines of up to £60 after wrongly driving down the restricted Hemel Hempstead town centre road in 2011 and 2012.
But Herts County Council was then forced to turn off the camera catching motorists out after a tribunal ruled that the signs and traffic order used to set up the scheme were wrong.
But now the road is being looked at again and the public will be consulted before any plans are put into action.
County councillor Stuart Pile, who oversees highways and transport, said: “Personally, and I think speaking for the authority, we would like a solution that works for the local people.”
Despite not agreeing with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudication, Mr Pile said County Hall is working with Dacorum Borough Council to consider solutions that do not involve using cameras. “That requires some difficult decisions to be made and thinking outside the box,” said Mr Pile.
Almost 35,000 fines were issued after the camera went live in August 2011.
Drivers have since been offered their money back or could opt to donate it to the Hospice of St Francis – the total amount going to charity is expected to run into six figures.
Last year, Arriva changed the 500 bus route – cutting out Station Road and Cow Lane in Tring – in a bid to overcome delays caused by traffic along the way including cars clogging up Moor End Road. Mr Pile said: “We were losing buses up and down the route.
“Once we get this problem solved perhaps we can have another go at Arriva.”
He said exploring alternative options is still in the very early stages of development but added: “Would we put ANPR cameras back there again? Only if it is the right solution.”
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
