This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-53427585

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Bus lane warning in Newcastle's John Dobson Street 'inadequate' Bus lane warning in Newcastle's John Dobson Street 'misleading'
(about 3 hours later)
A bus lane with the most lucrative enforcement camera in England has been deemed inadequate, despite complying with transport rules. A report has found that a bus lane, once home to the most lucrative enforcement camera in England, had "misleading and wrong" road signs.
Nearly £6,000 a day was generated from penalty charges on Newcastle's John Dobson Street for the council in 2016. Nearly £6,000 a day was generated from penalty charges for the council in 2016 on Newcastle's John Dobson Street.
The Traffic Penalty Tribunal upheld a ruling that found signage did not give people enough warning of restrictions. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal upheld a previous ruling that drivers were not given enough warning and accused the council of "fundamental negligence".
The council said it had not yet decided whether to appeal. The Department for Transport (DfT) has been contacted. Newcastle City Council refuted the comments that it misled drivers.
The Labour-led local authority has not yet decided whether to appeal and insisted measures were compliant with government guidelines, something the adjudicator agreed with.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been contacted for a comment.
Fines 'unfairly paid'
The figures were revealed after an investigation by BBC England found almost 4,000 motorists a day were being fined for driving in bus lanes across the country, raising an estimated £31m between 2015-16.The figures were revealed after an investigation by BBC England found almost 4,000 motorists a day were being fined for driving in bus lanes across the country, raising an estimated £31m between 2015-16.
In Newcastle, almost 92,000 drivers were caught on the northbound side of the city centre road between the camera being installed in February 2016 and shut off in June 2017.In Newcastle, almost 92,000 drivers were caught on the northbound side of the city centre road between the camera being installed in February 2016 and shut off in June 2017.
Fines from the bus camera totalled £1.5m from February to October 2016 alone. Fines totalled £1.5m from February to October 2016 alone.
Drivers had complained warning signs were not good enough. In a 15-page ruling, which took three years to publish, chief adjudicator Caroline Sheppard found that a sign on the approach to the roundabout should have been replaced as it misdirected drivers to the bus lane.
In 2017 the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) said a motorist was entitled to know what lies ahead of them before entering the road. She added that the "misleading and wrong" warning sign on John Dobson Street itself could be easily obscured by buses and incorrectly implied there were through roads, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
It found that the northbound signage was inadequate but that the council "substantially complies" with Department for Transport rules. Ms Sheppard also said warning letters could have been issued at first, rather than an immediate fine.
Fines 'unfairly paid' Fines for drivers improperly using the bus lane, initially charged at £60, have been suspended ever since. It is not known if refunds will be issued.
The council demanded a review to get clarity on exactly what was wrong with the signage, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Campaigner David Crawford-Emery took his case to the tribunal in 2017 and had his fine overturned.
Fines for drivers improperly using the bus lane have been suspended ever since.
Campaigner David Crawford-Emery was one of five drivers who originally took their cases to the tribunal. He had his fine overturned.
He said: "I think that this opens up the possibility now, that the council will have to refund thousands of fines that have been unfairly paid out."He said: "I think that this opens up the possibility now, that the council will have to refund thousands of fines that have been unfairly paid out."
Newcastle City Council said it had not yet decided what changes would be made or whether drivers who were fined previously will be refunded. Councillor Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport, said: "We would absolutely refute any suggestion that the council has been negligent or has misled drivers in any way, particularly as the measures we put in place were compliant with the government guidelines," she added.
Councillor Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport, accused the tribunal of "a total disregard for the city and those drivers affected" by taking three years to issue a ruling. "It is precisely these inconsistencies, both with different adjudications and the DfT guidance we have to follow, which prompted us to request this review all those years ago - and it is disappointing that these issues have still not been adequately addressed in the chief adjudicator's decision."
"We would absolutely refute any suggestion that the council has been negligent or has misled drivers in any way, particularly as the measures we put in place were compliant with the government guidelines," she added.
Ms Ainsley insisted bus lanes were "not there to make money for the council" helped keep public transport services running on time.
Enforcement on the southbound bus lane will continue.
The fine for driving in a bus lane is £60 but can be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
The TPT and DFT have been contacted for a comment.
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.