Highways chiefs are consulting on plans to replace rising bollards with enforcement cameras on two roads in Hatfield.

Currently the rising bollards are used to restrict access to parts of Albatross Way and College Lane to buses.

But now highways officers at the county council have drawn-up plans to remove the bollards – replacing them with unattended enforcement cameras.

They describe the proposed change as being "in essence an administrative change", and claim it would not affect existing access rights for any user – with access already restricted to buses, pedal cycles and other ‘authorised’ vehicles.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Albatross Way and College Lane could see cameras installedAlbatross Way and College Lane could see cameras installed (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)

Formal public consultation on the proposal will run until January 21 – with respondents having the option to complete the council’s survey or submit comments.

Surveys on the proposals can be found at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/collegelanehatfield and at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/albatrosswayhatfield

Alternatively comments can be sent to TRO Services Team, Postal Point (CHO242), First Floor, East Link Corridor, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8DN or emailed to tro.team@hertfordshire.gov.uk

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Councillors agreed the policies and procedures necessary to use enforcement cameras in the county at a meeting of the cabinet in November.

At that meeting  executive member for highways and transport Cllr Phil Bibby stressed that the council would be taking a "very softly softly approach" to camera enforcement in the first instance.

He said that in the first six months of operation motorists would receive a warning for a first offence, rather than a penalty notice.

He stressed that camera enforcement in the county would be "policy-led and not financial".

National guidance suggests camera sites could be selected to ensure efficient movement of traffic or to improve road safety, the environment, the quality or accessibility of public transport or to manage competing demands for road space.