Motorists who travel in a city centre road which is restricted to buses, taxis and bicycles will face being fined once new enforcement cameras are operational.

Bus gate measures were introduced in East Park Terrace in a move to make the area directly outside Southampton Solent University safer.

The restriction has been in place since July last year without enforcement cameras.

CCTV was put in place to track driver behaviour and after months of “informal monitoring” to assess the level of contravention, the local authority has decided to act.

A council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there is currently no set date for enforcement to go live but it is anticipated to begin next month after additional signage is installed.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Keeping road users and pedestrians safe is paramount.

“Restricting car vehicle access on East Park Terrace improves road safety and ensures that traffic regulations are adhered to.

“We believe this approach will create a safer environment for all road users in that area, especially the high volume of pedestrians accessing Southampton Solent University.”

Once operational, the enforcement cameras will monitor traffic flow and identify vehicles violating the restrictions.

For the first six months, the council will issue warning notices to “educate” offending drivers about the rules and encourage compliance.

This notice will apply to a first contravention. Any repeat breaches will result in a penalty charge notice being issued.

The council said it will monitor traffic patterns and conduct regular reviews of the enforcement data.

The spokesperson added: “It’s important to note that the decision to implement and maintain traffic enforcement at any location in Southampton, whether new or existing, is made on a case-by-case basis.

“This approach allows for flexibility and ensures that enforcement efforts are targeted and effective.”

The local authority previously said the restriction in East Park Terrace would see vehicle numbers in the road fall from 10,000 to 2,000 a day.

The bus gate was introduced as part of improvement work included upgraded crossings, intelligent traffic lights and additional cycle lanes.

This scheme was carried out by the city council using money the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.