Cheshire Police are now sending out letters to the public, if their cars are too loud.

While the sound detection units are not currently in Macclesfield, they are in a nearby town.

More than 500 drivers have been sent warning letters about noisy vehicles after a noise-activated camera in Wilmslow was triggered 1,099 times by cars over the decibel limit.

But Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said offenders can't be fined until a public protection space order is in place – and that is the responsibility of councils.

Cheshire PCC John Dwyer, outside Cheshire HQ in Winsford.

The commissioner was responding to a question at Friday's meeting of the Cheshire Police & Crime Panel from co-opted member Gemma Shepherd-Etchells who asked for an update on the pilot scheme, whether the camera would be used to fine motorists and whether it was something that might be rolled out across Cheshire.

Mr Dwyer admitted he had at first had reservations about the device.

"I have to say I'd got reservations about a camera identifying on a dual carriageway, which of those two vehicles was making the noise, but our tests have proved the viability of it," he said.

"Recently, a new camera was installed which has improved capability to work effectively at night and also uses automatic number plate recognition.

Macclesfield Police Station, of Brunswick Street. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"Following the trial of the new device Cheshire East local authority – and it is really their responsibility not the police – will be able to consider the placement of a public space protection order."

The commissioner said since the camera was installed there have been 1,099 activations, which have exceeded 90 decibels and letters have been sent to vehicle owners in 525 cases.

"The pilot scheme was put in place to address specific public concerns in the area raised directly with me and to assess the viability of the camera as a response," Mr Dwyer told the panel.

"I'm hoping that the other local authorities will identify it as an appropriate way forward and identify areas that they want to put them in – but this will be local authorities doing it, not the police and not my office.

"We were responding to comments made by the local population about the noise levels, which were unbearable, and my role as the commissioner was to actually involve all agencies to try and resolve that."

He said now it was down to Cheshire East – and other interested local authorities – to decide about public space protection orders.

"And then, having done that, they can then issue fines from the local authority and the income from those fines go straight to the local authority," said Mr Dwyer.

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