A new bus gate camera in Harlow could be soon raising thousands of pounds for Essex County Council.

A new traffic order means that the bus lanes that already exist at the junction of A1019 Velizy Avenue with Post Office Road will be enforced by fines.

There is a right turn filter bus lane into Post Office Road on the A1019 Velizy Avenue southbound.

Meanwhile there is a right turn filter bus lane in Post Office Road eastbound, supported by signage indicating “no right turn except buses”.

However neither of these bus lanes are supported by a valid Traffic Regulation Order, which  means fines cannot be handed out for vehicles that uses them illegally.

The county council says there is a high level of contravention.

The order also raises the threat of camera enforcement to curb people’s behaviour at the site – the council already has 12 ANPR cameras at the nine bus lanes which are enforced.

It says a proposal to install cameras at this location has been put forward following a survey to determine the number of non-permitted vehicles using this junction.

Vehicles which will be exempt include buses, taxis, bicycles or motorbikes.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “A proposal to install cameras at this location has been put forward following a survey to determine the number of non-permitted vehicles using this junction.

“This proposal will be subject to public consultation whereby all views will be taken into account. Once the consultation has closed, all responses will be considered and a final decision on whether to install cameras will be made by the cabinet member for infrastructure.”

A statement accompanying a cabinet report said: “The council is committed to increasing public transport usage within the county, reducing congestion and the environmental impacts of single use cars.

“To achieve this there are a number of locations where the council has installed bus gates to improve journey time reliability and reduce localised environmental impacts of other vehicles.

“While a number of these are self-regulating, a number of sites have been identified with suffering from a high level of contravention. Therefore to maintain the credibility of the bus gates, it has become necessary for the council to have the ability to enforce these sites.”