Latest news with #TrafficPenaltyTribunal
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Bristol City Council receives £2.5m in Cumberland Road bus gate fines
Drivers have paid more than £2.5m in fines over a 15-month period for travelling through a controversial bus 60,128 fines were handed to motorists for driving through the Cumberland Road bus gate in Bristol between 1 January 2024 and 3 April 2025. This equates to an average of 131 fines per states only buses, taxis and bicycles are allowed to pass through City Council said bus gates are installed across the city to help cut air pollution "and increase the number of bus travel options for residents". According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC, the Cumberland Road bus gate fines generated about £ is more than four times higher than the city's second-highest grossing bus gate, which is High Street, at the junction of Baldwin Street. This gate made more than £477,000 in FOI also revealed there were 128 attempts at appealing the fines during the same period, however it is not clear how many of them were successfully February, a Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudicator raised concerns about the signage approaching the bus gate while determining an appeal. 'Offer leniency' The council has repeatedly defended the signage, arguing it is compliant with the latest guidance and legislation. Councillor Ed Plowden, transport committee chair on Bristol City Council, said: "It is the responsibility of all drivers to plan their journey appropriately and avoid bus gates."Drivers can find details of bus gates in Bristol on the council's website. "We continue to offer leniency, at our discretion, for those drivers who receive multiple fines in the time between their first incorrect use of the bus gate and getting notice of the fine in the post."The total revenue made from fines across all of the city's bus gates was £4.7m.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- BBC News
Bristol City Council winning bus gate appeals since concerns
A council says it has defeated numerous appeals from drivers caught using a controversial bus gate since an adjudicator raised concerns about its buses, taxis and bicycles can pass through the Cumberland Road bus gate in Bristol without incurring a February, a Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudicator examining one driver's appeal ruled some of its signs were not "likely to be that effective" in warning drivers and should be City Council said it had updated its evidence to address the adjudicator's concerns and won numerous tribunal cases since. The bus gate was installed in 2023 and saw £1m worth of fines issued within six months last all of the signs at the bus gate are legal, adjudicator Mackenzie Robinson criticised the lack of adequate signs on the turning onto Cumberland Road from Gas Ferry Road. In his ruling, Mr Robinson said the first three warning signs approaching the bus gate from Avon Crescent were "not particularly well located".He said: "I am concerned that little use has been made of road markings diverting drivers towards the council's preferred alternative route."He explained it is not his role to advise the council, but said the authority should use its local knowledge and expertise to decide what measures should be put in place. Mr Robinson said he had ruled in the council's favour when deciding previous appeals, but changed his mind due to the quantity of driver in this ruling was represented by campaigner Matt Sanders, who has been calling for the bus gate to be changed since May Sanders said it was the first time the driver, who won their appeal, had driven across Bristol in five years. He said they chose to travel via Hotwells to avoid bus gates in Baldwin Street and Bristol Bridge."The design of the bus gate has lots of individual mistakes and errors, and lack of anticipation of problems," Mr Sanders told the BBC."They may well be genuine errors," he added. "It may not be a sinister plot, but it means that it's less effective so there are more contraventions." 'Signs are legal' Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the council's transport committee, said the bus gate is among a number of measures which has improved air said its signs are compliant with the latest guidance and legislation and some signs exceed the requirements set out by the Traffic Signs Manual."Recent tribunal decisions not found in favour of the council have not undermined the wider operation of the bus gate," he added."However, officers have adjusted our existing signage and, if appropriate, will consider installing further additional signage or making other adjustments."Mr Plowden also said it is the responsibility of individuals to plan their journeys and avoid bus gates.
