A local council is infuriated due to the absence of enforcement cameras on the M48 Severn Bridge, which recently implemented a weight restriction.
The weight limit, effective from May 28, mandates that vehicles over 7.5 tonnes must take alternate routes as National Highways conducts essential repairs.
Monmouthshire County Council officials expressed their frustration over the lack of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which were promised by National Highways prior to the restriction’s implementation.
The National Highways Agency (NHA) had previously assured the Public Services Committee that these cameras would help monitor compliance with the new weight regulations.
Currently, there are no ANPR cameras installed, leaving law enforcement reliant on traffic police from two separate jurisdictions. Council members have warned that adherence to the new restrictions now relies solely on the “goodwill of hauliers.”
Cllr Armand Watt of Chepstow remarked to the South Wales Argus, “We expected the ANPR cameras to be operational to enforce the weight limit, and their absence makes the restrictions nearly unenforceable.”
The restrictions followed routine inspections that identified damage to the bridge’s main cables, necessitating a load reduction to maintain safe operations. The NHA has not provided specifics about the installation date for the cameras, leading to concerns over potential non-compliance.
