WNC pockets quarter of a million pounds in three months from fining motorists at six Northampton locations – latest enforcement figures revealed
Latest figures show traffic enforcement cameras across Northampton have brought in more than a quarter of a million pounds in fines in just three months for West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).
In February 2024, WNC has introduced automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at several locations across the town, including St John’s Street, Fishponds Road, Hermitage Way, Deanshanger Road, Marefair, Horseshoe Street, Gold Street and Horse Market.
A camera to enforce banned turns at the Marefair/Horseshoe Street junction with Gold Street began operating in December 2024, while the bus-only section of Gold Street, between College Street and Bridge Street, went live on January 2025.
In the first six months of the cameras going live, motorists were given warning notices and no Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). After the grace period for each location, fines of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days) are issued to offending drivers.
WNC releases its traffic enforcement figures on a quarterly basis, with the latest data covering July to September 2025.
Here is the latest data:
St John’s Street (yellow box junction)
July: 513 PCNs – £20,504.98
August: 628 PCNs – £19,828.10
September: 1,002 PCNs – £25,471.16
Total: 2,143 PCNs – £65,804.24
Gold Street bus lane
July: 1,385 PCNs – £49,845.00
August: 1,061 PCNs – £36,000.00
September: 1,150 PCNs – £34,565.00
Total: 3,596 PCNs – £120,410.00
Fishponds Road (banned right turn)
July: 417 PCNs – £11,094.23
August: 409 PCNs – £9,387.88
September: 105 PCNs – £8,144.52
Total: 931 PCNs – £28,626.63
Marefair, Horseshoe Street and Horse Market (banned turns)
July: 309 PCNs – £8,050.00 (67 warnings)
August: 296 PCNs – £9,520.00 (114 warnings)
September: 115 PCNs – £6,510.00 (86 warnings)
Total: 720 PCNs – £24,080.00
Hermitage Way (restricted route)
July: 125 PCNs – £5,260.00
August: 122 PCNs – £3,325.00
September: 88 PCNs – £3,430.00
Total: 335 PCNs – £12,015.00
Deanshanger Road (no entry)
July: 86 PCNs – £3,185.00
August: 69 PCNs – £2,730.00
September: 63 PCNs – £1,890.00
Total: 218 PCNs – £7,805.00
In total, across all sites, around 8,000 PCNs were issued from July to September 2025, generating £259,000 in fines.
When added to the previous £373,000 collected between March and June 2025, the total amount raised by the cameras in the last two quarters rises to £632,000.
The figures suggest WNC is on track to make around or even above £1 million in fines this year.
The previous six months to March 2025 showed St John’s Street issued 6,455 PCNs, Fishponds Road 1,662, Hermitage Way 532, and Deanshanger Road 113. If every fine had been paid at £70, WNC would have collected around £600,000 from these four areas alone.
A WNC spokesman previously said: “Highway measures such as box junctions, the prohibition of turning movements, and bus lanes are introduced to assist in reducing congestion, improving road safety, and ensuring better flow of traffic and public transport.
“Unfortunately, the police do not have the resources to enforce these measures, which are often ignored by drivers, hence the Government's decision to delegate enforcement powers to Highway Authorities such as West Northamptonshire Council.
“Working with our partners, including the police and bus operators, we made an informed decision to introduce enforcement cameras at these locations. Although they have been in place for some months now and are acting as a deterrent, we continue to see motorists breaching the rules.”