00:00It may be the usual weekday Rochester traffic but come Saturday the high street will be largely car free as it has been for the last two decades.
00:12Now a new consultation is underway to see if the no unauthorised vehicle restriction that effectively pedestrianises the street should be expanded even further.
00:24If Medway Council's proposals go ahead the high street will become pedestrianised on Sundays and bank holidays as well with APNR cameras being installed to catch those using the road at the weekend.
00:38Yes some people will still be driving down the high street many of them legitimately but that's not going to change what we will be doing is making the order consistent across the weekend no one can suggest that they didn't know what day of the week it was.
00:53The closure will be in place from 10 to 4 all weekend that's quite straight forward that's a clear message to people and it's an encouraging message to visitors that they can spend time on the high street with fewer vehicles to contend with.
01:08Emergency vehicles and residents would still have access under the plans but many are still split on whether expanding the use of number plate recognition cameras will drive people away from Rochester.
01:22Well I think it's a bit over the top really but you know there's too many cameras coming up now.
01:29No I think that's the right approach actually. I think we tend not to enforce rules as we should do.
01:38I get very fed up with people who are concerned about cameras in the post I mean if you've got no concern about what you're doing why should you be worried about being on camera.
01:47Regardless what any council is going to say AMPR cameras are there to make money you know and I think everybody understands that.
01:57Equally I think having the road shut for more time than it is currently would be a good option.
02:04There are already restrictions along the road with the high street raking in more than 1500 on street parking PCNs last year alone.
02:15For one business who has already fallen foul of this when unloading the prospect of potentially even more fines for oblivious customers doesn't fill them with confidence.
02:27Sometimes there's ways of doing it and I don't think things like PCN cameras on where people are trying to earn a living and shops are open at different times and there's drop offs and pick ups.
02:39That's not the place to do it I don't think.
02:42The council say any income generated through APNR would be used to cover the setup costs and be reinvested into Medway's transport network.
02:54But some would still like to see the council go further.
02:58I think it's a great idea. I just think that the safety aspect needs to be taken more into consideration.
03:05I think it's good for business that the streets pedestrianised but we still are getting a lot of cars coming down the street which can be a little bit problematic I think.
03:16So it's a good idea but I think the road needs to be physically blocked for it to work properly.
03:23Medway Council's consultation will run for six weeks until the 21st of September.
03:29But partial pedestrianisation already seems popular with locals.
03:35Even if the method of enforcement isn't.
03:38Oli Lida in Rochester.
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