08-03-2025
'Are they colour blind or stupid?' Hundreds of drivers fined in new double red line zone
Enforcing a town's first 'red route' no stopping stretch of road was always going to attract, and divide, opinions.
So far this year, hundreds of motorists have fallen foul of new tighter restrictions on a 'town centre gateway' road in Bury.
The council implemented the 'double red line' area, more commonly seen in big cities, on a stretch of Walmersley Road in early December.
READ MORE: Police descend on Denton beauty spot after man found dead
READ MORE: Residents spotted men coming and going at a small shop, and then a huge conspiracy started to unravel
Figures published by councillors show that in the three months since, 664 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued by enforcement officers informed by road-side cameras. They said that £16,845 has been paid in fines as a result.
Comments from Manchester Evening News readers have been generally unsympathetic to drivers caught out by the new restrictions, which apply between Peel Way and Birch Street.
£70 fines are dished out to anyone parking on the double red lines at any time of the day.
Hamstersparadise was in no doubt where their sympathy lied. They said: "Are they colour blind or stupid?
"Neither is an excuse for not knowing your highway code. Even if they can't tell what colour it is, there are two parallel lines. I don't even drive but I know what that means."
Sodium said: "Great news. If we had an IQ test for drivers to take before getting their driving licence, there would be no fines."
Moomooland claimed that since the red lines had been painted traffic flow had improved in that part of Bury. They said: "Been free flowing ever since the red route was implemented.
"Brilliant, no more cars obstructing the nearside lane approaching the traffic lights like there used to be. People know the rules regarding red routes so I have no sympathy whatsoever."
Other commenters said similar schemes were sorely needed in other parts of Greater Manchester.
Rigsby669 said 'need to get them in Cheetham Hill, it is chaos down there' while Bikepower999 replied 'Longsight too - the area is a nightmare to drive or cycle through. with double, sometimes triple parked cars'.
Misterlessismore took a different view saying the the fines issued were 'fleecing the easy targets'.
