Cameras catch 11,000 Wellingborough bus gate breaches in just 18 days

From next month fines will be issued
The Wellingborough bus gate.The Wellingborough bus gate.
The Wellingborough bus gate.

Motorists have been warned they will soon be fined if they illegally drive through a Wellingborough bus gate - after a trial caught ELEVEN THOUSAND breaches in just 18 days.

From February 1 Northamptonshire County Council will be enforcing rules at the gate linking Church Street to Cambridge Street with number-place recognition cameras.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

No vehicles are allowed to travel through the junction between 9am and 4.30pm between Monday and Saturday, except for local buses and taxis.

But a recent trial to check the level of contraventions but found 11,110 breaches over 18 days.

Throughout January warning notices will be issued to those who flout the rules to act as a warning, with fines being issued to offenders from next month.

The council says freeing up the bus lanes will make bus journey times more reliable and therefore a more attractive mode of transport, and also encourage people to make cycle journeys along the routes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Jason Smithers, county council cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said: “Part of the solution to reducing congestion and pollution is to encourage people to use more sustainable forms of transport.

“A real challenge to promoting bus travel is guaranteeing reliable journey times. I believe this plan will make significant improvements in making bus travel an attractive option for commuters.

“I also think it will encourage cycling as the bus lanes, if free of cars, are fairly traffic light and better for those who choose pedal power.

“Obviously at the moment with the Covid-19 pandemic people should only be making essential journeys but this infrastructure will continue to be in place once restrictions are lifted.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Enforcement will also be introduced at two bus lanes in Northampton, one in Weedon Road and one in the Drapery.

A trial caught 2,987 breaches in seven days at the Drapery and a further 723 over 16 days in Weedon Road.