Police say they will crack down on drivers who breach controversial road rules in Cirencester town centre.

On Tuesday morning, officers stopped eight motorists who were driving in the pedestrian zone in Cricklade Street.

Many of the drivers were said to be local, and they were all issued with a £50 fine for breaching the traffic order which bans vehicles from the road for most of the day from Monday to Saturday.

However, many motorists have argued that the signs which announce the restrictions are not clear enough.

One driver was also caught not wearing his seatbelt, police said.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "Officers issued eight tickets yesterday due to complaints that had been made by members of the public and shop keepers.

"There have previously been reported incidents of road rage and general foul language being aimed at those who are going about their day to day lives.

"We are working with Highways England and the council to make this road safer and enforce the traffic order that is in place.

"Members of the community have approached the police and thanked us for helping to enforce the traffic order.

"Our plan is to randomly spot check the area to deter people from using Cricklade Street.

Cricklade Street is closed to vehicles from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday after police began enforcing the restrictions in 2017.

The only exemptions are vehicles delivering to shops within Cricklade Street.

Vehicles that are given permits by Gloucestershire County Council are also allowed, but no permits have been given by the county council for use of the street during these restricted hours.

Many drivers have complained about the decision to enforce the closure of Cricklade Street to vehicles, which was part of wider changes to the traffic layout in Cirencester town centre in 2017 which saw Castle Street changed from two-way to one-way.

These changes, which meant motorists could no longer drive out of the town centre via Castle Street, have resulted in some drivers using Cricklade Street.

Cirencester Town Council Cllr Roly Hughes said: "The problem with Cricklade Street has gone on to long now, and to date there hasn't been a solution to the problem.

"Many suggestions have been put forward to stop traffic going down there, but have not been implemented due to not having the correct traffic orders in place, and the public must realise this does take time to get put into place.

"I sympathise with blue badge holders who need to get to the shops in Cricklade Street and the banks in town, there should be something put in place for them enabling them to drive down there with a maximum one hour stay.

"When will this problem be solved, who knows, but it needs to be looked at very soon."

"Perhaps deliveries should be before 9.30am and after 4.30pm, with road restrictions at the top of Cricklade Street to prevent traffic going down.

"And road restrictions by Ashcroft Road in case of motorists deciding to reverse up the wrong way."

Cirencester Town Council’s planning committee chairman Cllr Stuart Tarr added: "There can be no excuse for local drivers, able-bodied or blue badge, to drive down Cricklade Street compromising pedestrians' safety during the Pedestrian Zone restricted times.

"So it is absolutely right that the police have begun and will continue to issue fines within their limited manpower resources until this message is driven home. 

"And for the benefit of those who claim that they cannot clearly see the existing signage as too high, partly obscured etc, then the town council will be working with the county council to devise a solution to address this issue to make the signage clearer that will not require a traffic regulation order.

"Longer term a traffic regulation order will be required to fully pedestrianise Cricklade Street and provide designated blue badge car parking spaces in the Market Place on which discussions with Gloucestershire County Highways continue."

Councillor Stuart Tarr is also a member of the joint Cirencester District Council and Cirencester Town Council Partnership Board overseeing the delivery of the town centre masterplan and Cirencester Neighbourhood Development Plan.