Plans to add cameras to several towns to catch motorists flouting traffic rules have been welcomed despite claims they’re being rolled out to “make money”.

Medway Council is one of the early adopters of new powers handed to local authorities by the government to penalise drivers who commit so-called “moving traffic offences”.

New automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have already been installed at eight locations across the Towns to enforce yellow boxes, no right-turns, and no vehicle entries.

The council launched a six-week consultation, between May 15 and June 26, on adding 17 locations.

It received 310 responses with residents generally in favour of the scheme, although a proportion thought they’d be ineffective, were not needed, and are just an excuse to raise revenue.

But the council hit back at those claims, saying it was “standing up for the silent majority of people who stick to the rules” as well as improving public health and accessibility.

Three quarters of respondents to the survey agreed they felt it was important or very important the council improve safety and decrease congestion on the roads.

However, many were divided on specific locations where the cameras are proposed to be introduced, with each of the 17 suggested locations receiving opposition based upon the belief they were primarily for making the council money.

The plans are the second stage of the council’s Safer Healthier Streets programme.

It follows the controversial introduction of so-called School Streets — relating to a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic at drop-off and pick-up times — and rollout of its Red Routes

scheme in parts of the Towns, essentially a stricter version of double yellow lines.

The latest proposals are to put in ANPR cameras to more actively enforce existing rules on not stopping inside of yellow box junctions and bans on cars entering certain roads.

According to the council, any revenue from the fines would be reinvested in the road network.

The addition of these cameras and the required signage and setting-up costs for the scheme is estimated to cost £560,000.

In the council report presented to the authority’s cabinet on July 9, it said for most of the 17 sites the majority of residents were either neutral or in favour of the introduction of cameras.

The location with the most support was the camera which would enforce no motor vehicles entering Gillingham High Street from Kings Street, with 60% of respondents being in favour or neutral.

The proposal for cameras to enforce the no entry onto Chatham High Street from Clover Street in order to improve pedestrian safety received 59% support or neutrality from respondents, but had the highest rate of objection at 44% - with objectors saying they thought the plans were not needed and just a revenue raiser.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on July 9, Medway Council’s new portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab), said: “What this speaks to is the need for enforcement to be consistent.

“I think what’s most important is those rules are applied equally and fairly, and I think what we have at the moment, without the ability to enforce them using ANPR, is a mish-mash of levels of enforcement.

“Ultimately, this is about standing up for the silent majority of people who stick to the rules, day in and day out.”

Deputy council leader Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab) agreed, saying residents recognised the issue of congestion and the health impacts it caused, including how air pollution increases the risk of heart disease and can hinder IVF treatments.

She said: “When people say you’re just doing this to make money, or ‘I’ve always driven into yellow boxes and I’ve never had any trouble before’, I’m afraid neither of those things are true.

“This is about our commitment to preventing poor health, which runs as a golden thread right through the council in everything we do, and it’s about our commitment to making sure people can get about the Towns easily.”

However the Conservative group says the council needs to focus on more than just motor offences enforcement.

Councillor George Perfect (Con), leader of the opposition said: “The Conservative Group are supportive of measures of enforcement to improve the quality of life for those living and visiting Medway.

“However, we are concerned that in recent months enforcement action across the council has been declining, including for common offences such as littering, motor vehicle offences, fly-tipping, and trade waste.

“The Council and the new Portfolio Holder needs to rapidly take action improve performance in this area, which isn’t just constrained to motor offences.”

In total, 16 of the 17 consulted upon sites will soon have cameras to enforce no motor vehicle areas, points of no entry, and yellow box junctions.

There will be cameras installed at five locations in Chatham and Strood, three in Rochester, and three in Gillingham.

In Strood, ANPR cameras will monitor yellow box junctions at the A2 High Street junction with B2002 Station Road and the junction with Esplanade, the Station Road junction with Friary Place, the A2 junction with Castle View Road, and the A2 London Road junction with Gravesend Road.

In Rochester, the three cameras will all be on the A2 Corporation Street at the yellow box junctions with Esplanade, Gas House Road, and with Bardell Terrace.

The no right-hand turn at the junction between Rochester High Street and Star Hill was also part of the consultation but needs further consultation to have cameras implemented, which councillors say will take place soon.

In Chatham, three cameras will be installed to monitor entry onto Chatham High Street from Batchelor Street, Church Street/Whittaker Street, and Clover Street, while two cameras will focus on yellow box junctions at the Chatham Hill junction with Luton Road and on Maidstone Road at the Bus Interchange.

The three cameras in Gillingham will monitor vehicles entering Gillingham High Street from Green Street, Kings Street, and James Street.

The cabinet agreed unanimously to progress the implementation of the ANPR cameras and to conduct further required consultation for the Rochester High Street-Star Hill junction camera.