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DRIVERS FACE FINES

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Feb 2004.

Motorists who abuse the new traffic regulations on the Lemon Quay piazza in Truro will face fines of up to £60 and receive three penalty points on their licence.

The warning comes this week from police who claim many motorists are still abusing the revised traffic regulations. They were imposed in November last year in an effort to overcome considerable problems, particularly the volume of traffic crossing the piazza, a predominantly pedestrian area.

In future it is expected to be a near zero tolerance situation as a closer watch is kept on the area not only by police but by the use of closed circuit television cameras in the area.

When the new regulations were brought in after continued problems in Lemon Quay and Boscawen Street, the volume of traffic crossing the piazza then dropped dramatically. But in recent weeks it has increased again.

Currently, motorists appear to be turning right into Lemon Street from Fairmantle Street and turning into St Nicholas Street and Boscawen Street from River Street, both illegal moves, said Police Constable Bob Wheeler.

All three areas were clearly signed and police would be taking a pro-active approach in future, looking to prosecute offenders.

"This is a continuing problem and it could also result in an accident, all for saving a few seconds on your journey," he added.

"This type of driving is very selfish to other motorists and pedestrians."

Since the £30 million Lemon Quay development which includes shops, was completed there has been criticism that the piazza has not been pedestrian friendly.

The rules have been changed several times until eventually it was decided to permit selected vehicles only across the piazza such as buses and taxis.

The latest traffic scheme cost £65,000 to carry out and followed a summer of chaos when the city's roads were gridlocked on several occasions.

A rising bollard is still on the cards for the piazza, which will give permitted user access. A similar system is in operation in Redruth's town centre.

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