'Unsuspecting motorists' hit with an 'incredible' 27,000 fines during controversial bus gate's first year
08.06.2023 - 05:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
‘Unsuspecting motorists’ have been hit with more than 27,000 fines since enforcement began at a controversial town centre ‘bus gate’. The ‘incredible’ number of Penalty Charge Notices issued by Stockport council has been revealed following a Freedom of Information Request by one of the drivers caught out at the Heaton Lane Bus Gate.
It covers a year from when fines were first issued in April 2022 to the end of March this year. General traffic was banned from the stretch of Heaton Lane running between the A6 Wellington Road North and Travis Brow last February with only buses, cyclists and licensed taxis now allowed through.
Bosses say this is part of the ‘ongoing multi-million-pound transformation' of the town’s new transport Interchange and makes Heaton Lane a more attractive walking and cycling corridor. Fines are issued at £60 - but reduced to £30 if paid within a fortnight - taking the potential haul from the 27,552 fines upwards of £1.6m.
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The furious driver who made the FOI request has questioned the road signs as well as the decision to implement the scheme during the cost of living crisis. In an email to the MEN, they said it was ‘quite incredible’ for the council to do so at ‘a time when people are struggling to pay bills, mortgages etc’.
“I believe the signage in the area does not give adequate warning to drivers on the main road prior to the turn warning of the bus lane nor is there adequate signage stating the route that should be taken to get to the M60. However my appeal on this basis not surprisingly failed.”
As part of its FOI response, the council has confirmed that the temporary signage is currently under a planned 12 month
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