Moving Traffic Offences

Moving traffic enforcement is a way of managing moving traffic behaviours by issuing penalty charge notices (PCNs) for motorists that breach restrictions (using automatic number plate recognition cameras) that are in place such as contravening banned left or right turns, entry to a pedestrian zone and ignoring a weight limit etc.

Previously, under criminal law, enforcement of Moving Traffic Offences could only be carried out by the Police. However, under the Traffic Management Act (2004), local authorities outside London can apply for the powers from the Department of Transport so that they have the authority to do this directly.

Initial enforcement locations

Wigan Council was granted authority to enforce against motorists who commit Moving Traffic Offences by Central Government in July 2023. These powers were initially granted to enforce against four locations where we know there are real issues with how people are driving and we undertook a six week consultation on. The four locations are known to experience a high level of contravention and we plan to enforce later in 2024. These locations are as follows:

  • Market Street, Atherton – prohibition of driving except for buses Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 4.00pm is regularly abused which causes pedestrian safety concerns
  • Winwick Lane, Lowton – 7.5 tonnes southbound weight limit is regularly contravened, and the area is also suffering from poor air quality
  • King Street, Wigan – no left turn, except buses, taxis and cyclists onto Wallgate is regularly abused and enforcement would also support the King St improvements by reducing vehicle movement on this road
  • Bradshawgate, Leigh – prohibition of driving Monday to Sunday 10.30am to 4.00pm is regularly abused which causes pedestrian safety concerns.

Key Benefits

In England and Wales, moving traffic offences are defined in law in Schedule 7 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (as amended).

In terms of Wigan borough, the key benefits of acquiring these moving traffic enforcement powers includes: 

  • Improved pedestrian and cyclist safety 
  • Reduced network congestion 
  • Improved journey times for public transport 
  • Improved air quality, reduction in transport related emissions contributing to carbon net zero targets

Consultation on further enforcement locations

While we are planning to enforce the four initial locations detailed above we are now consulting on a further two locations where there are issues with how people are driving.  The two locations that we plan to enforce in the future and we want your views on are as follows:

  • Bradshawgate, Leigh – one way westbound from its junction with Union Street to its junction with Market Street; is regularly abused by delivery drivers and others which causes pedestrian safety concerns;
  • Windermere Road, Leigh – School Street Scheme - prohibition of driving from its junction with Gordon Street to its junction with Grasmere Street Monday to Friday 8:15am to 9:15am and 3pm to 4pm. Glebe Street, Leigh - prohibition of driving from its junction with Prescott Street to its junction with Windermere Road Monday to Friday 8:15am to 9:15am and 3pm to 4pm. It is abused which causes pedestrian safety concerns;

Have your say

We are inviting local residents and businesses to give us their views on the use of the powers at the two locations above. However, anyone is welcome to respond to this consultation and share their views.

You can have your say by:

  • Emailing networkmanagement@wigan.gov.uk, or writing to
  • Wigan Council Network Management Group, Wigan Life Centre (South site), College Avenue, Wigan WN1 1NJ 
  • Deadline: Sunday 5th May 2024.

What happens next

We will use feedback from this consultation so that your views can be used to shape the decisions about whether to proceed with the enforcement of these further two existing moving traffic offences.

Further updates will be provided on our webpages.

© Wigan Council