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| Bus lane fine for taking terminally-ill wife to hospital | Bus lane fine for taking terminally-ill wife to hospital |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A man fined after failing to see a bus lane sign as he drove his terminally-ill wife to hospital has accused the council of "underhand" behaviour. | |
| Andrew Peryer was sent a photograph two days after the death of his wife Wendy, 53, showing them in the lane outside Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. | Andrew Peryer was sent a photograph two days after the death of his wife Wendy, 53, showing them in the lane outside Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. |
| Council figures show the enforcement camera amassed fines totalling £123,000 within 11 weeks of it being installed. | Council figures show the enforcement camera amassed fines totalling £123,000 within 11 weeks of it being installed. |
| Portsmouth City Council said the signs complied with national regulations. | Portsmouth City Council said the signs complied with national regulations. |
| Mr Peryer said: "I had to double-take when I looked at my car and saw the picture of me and my wife in there... I'd just lost her on the Saturday... [it] was like a double whammy, it rubbed salt into the wound." | Mr Peryer said: "I had to double-take when I looked at my car and saw the picture of me and my wife in there... I'd just lost her on the Saturday... [it] was like a double whammy, it rubbed salt into the wound." |
| A Freedom of Information request to Portsmouth City Council revealed the camera, installed in Cavell Drive on 22 July 2016, generated 2,062 penalty charge notices by 6 October - each for £60. | A Freedom of Information request to Portsmouth City Council revealed the camera, installed in Cavell Drive on 22 July 2016, generated 2,062 penalty charge notices by 6 October - each for £60. |
| The 57 year old from Portsmouth said he returned to check the signs and maintains they were not visible from his driving position. | The 57 year old from Portsmouth said he returned to check the signs and maintains they were not visible from his driving position. |
| He is awaiting the outcome of an appeal. | He is awaiting the outcome of an appeal. |
| 'Successful appeals' | 'Successful appeals' |
| He said: "It just seems rather underhand. Surely, if you have something that's generating such a high volume of tickets you would look to see a reason why. | He said: "It just seems rather underhand. Surely, if you have something that's generating such a high volume of tickets you would look to see a reason why. |
| "It appears to be a high cash-generation spot and it seems to be preying on people who would be under stress or they've gone to visit someone or are having treatment - that seems totally unfair." | "It appears to be a high cash-generation spot and it seems to be preying on people who would be under stress or they've gone to visit someone or are having treatment - that seems totally unfair." |
| Transport councillor Jim Fleming said appeals to fines were considered on compassionate grounds. | Transport councillor Jim Fleming said appeals to fines were considered on compassionate grounds. |
| He added: "All the signs, both indicating a bus-only thoroughfare and the presence of camera technology, are clear and fully comply with national regulations. | He added: "All the signs, both indicating a bus-only thoroughfare and the presence of camera technology, are clear and fully comply with national regulations. |
| "There have been 19 successful appeals at this location to date but none of these related to the signs." | "There have been 19 successful appeals at this location to date but none of these related to the signs." |