No-vehicle restriction on historic Kent High Street could be expanded
Traffic cameras could be coming to Rochester High Street
Last updated 13th Aug 2025
Traffic cameras could be coming to a historic High Street in Kent in expansion of a no-car rule.
Medway Council is consulting on whether to increase the existing Saturday no-vehicle restriction on Rochester High Street to include Sundays and bank holidays.
To enforce the expanded scheme, the authority is considering the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to catch those who enter the street when they shouldn’t.
The cameras will also be used to enforce no right or left turn restrictions onto the High Street when coming from the Boley Hill direction, which are already in place.
The consultation begins today (August 11) and is open for six weeks until September 21.
Rochester High Street has been closed to traffic on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm for over two decades.
Previously this restriction was upheld by a chain barrier at the Northgate junction, but in February last year Medway Council removed the chain and said ANPR cameras would be used instead.
The expanded restrictions which have been suggested would see traffic banned on the High Street between 10am and 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
The already installed ANPR camera at the Northgate junction would be additionally used to enforce the new rules as well as the no right and left turns.
Cameras at Crow Lane and Blue Boar Lane would also be utilised for the new restrictions.
As with other schemes Medway Council has introduced, such as red routes, school streets and yellow box junctions, for the first six months following its introduction a warning period would be in place.
Motorists who break the rules during the warning period would receive a letter rather than a penalty charge notice (PCN) for their first offence.
Following that the typical charge of £35, if paid within two weeks, or £70 would apply.
Medway Council says any income generated through PCNs would be used to cover the setup costs and reinvested into the Towns’ transport network.
The consultation runs from August 11 to September 21 and submissions can be made at Medway.gov.uk/roadsafety.
Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab), portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said: “We want people to be able to enjoy visiting Rochester, whether it’s for the fantastic range of shops, restaurants and bars or our iconic heritage sites.
“By proposing to extend the well established no vehicle restriction to include Sundays and bank holidays, we are looking to put pedestrians first along the high street whilst people are out and enjoying themselves across the weekend.
“I would encourage all residents to take a look at these proposals and make sure they have their say in the consultation.”