Cameras in bus lanes will be installed despite drivers’ fears

COUNCILLORS have voted to install cameras on some of Hull’s busiest roads to stop people from using bus lanes illegally, despite protests from some drivers.
Councillor Martin Mancey, Hull City CouncilCouncillor Martin Mancey, Hull City Council
Councillor Martin Mancey, Hull City Council

The decision came after Liverpool City Council decided to scrap 22 of its 26 bus lanes with its leader Joe Anderson claiming they “simply don’t work.”

But Coun Martin Mancey told Hull Council’s Cabinet they couldn’t encourage more people to use the bus if they couldn’t run on time.

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Two of the eight cameras will be set up at a hot spot on Anlaby Road flyover where more than 9,7000 drivers were caught in a trial in June, with the others likely to go on Beverley Road, Holderness Road and Spring Bank.

Fines will be £60 or £30 if paid within a fortnight and official estimate that they could raise a surplus of more than £250,000 a year.

Work will be carried out to widen Anlaby Road near the junction with Hull Royal Infirmary before the cameras went up and road signs and markings would be bought up to scratch.

Councillors raised concerns about motorists being unfairly fined if they nipped into a bus lane to try and get round vehicles turning right. But Coun Mancey said they would look at shortening bus lanes where there was a “known difficult spot” and discretion would be used before they issued a penalty ticket, not after. “It’s not about maximising income, it’s about making bus lanes operate as intended,” he said. He added: “It’s quite staggering. In a year Stagecoach carried 18m passengers. Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Motor Services do 425,000 bus journeys a week. We are not talking about a small number of people getting preferential treatment on the bus.”

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Councillors also voted for increases in charges for controlled parking zones. How much has still not been decided and residents in the zones will be consulted first - with one option being to get rid of their CPZ altogether. Coun Mancey ruled out charging £33, as had been feared, for more than 7,000 residents living in the area around the KC Stadium.

“There will be increases but not to £33,” he said. “It is too big a leap.”

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