Watford locals favour keeping the bollards and installing ANPR cameras at a notorious cut-through, according to Hertfordshire County Council.

The council launched a consultation in November over the Woodmere Avenue traffic-calming measure between the A41 Colne Way and Bushey Mill Lane, which became infamous after “hundreds” of cars crashed into the narrow bollards.

In a letter to residents, the council said there was strong public support for keeping the existing layout and also installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras (ANPR).

Watford Observer: The council previously widened the bollards in a bid to reduce crashes.The council previously widened the bollards in a bid to reduce crashes. (Image: Stephen Danzig)

HCC will now launch a formal consultation for six weeks in February and March on this solution, which could see ANPR cameras installed by spring or summer if approved.

The road became infamous after a local resident's Ring doorbell camera captured numerous crashes into the bollards, which are meant to prevent heavy-goods vehicles driving through the estate while still allowing access to buses.

The council said 41 per cent of survey respondents said they would like to keep the existing bollards, while 34 per cent would like to replace them with a five-tonne weight limit.

According to the letter, the majority also supported introducing ANPR cameras in either case, at 59 per cent and 67 percent respectively.

There was, however, strong negative responses to both solutions, as 53 per cent answered no to keeping the bollards and 51 per cent said no to the proposed weight limit.

Residents shared a range of views with the Watford Observer on the proposed solutions.

Julie Raybould said that the road “definitely needs a camera", added "there are vehicles regularly driving through the bus-only central section”.

However, Rob Carden agreed with the weight restriction and ANPR camera proposal as there are “too many large vehicles cutting through. The old road surface was damaged, the new surface will end up the same.”

Brittani-Jennifer Oldham questioned if ANPR are really a strong enough deterrent, while Andy Tucker branded the measures a “waste of money”.