Council pockets £170,000 in Park Way Bridge fines

The bridge (pictured) was turned into a bus, taxi and bicycle lane on November 4 last year.
Following a request from the Newbury Weekly News, West Berkshire Council has confirmed that 6,184 fines were imposed in the first year of the bus lane being introduced. However, 104 of these fines were cancelled at appeal.
Each fine is £30 if it is paid within 14 days, rising to £60 thereafter, therefore the council could have made at least £182,400 from the 6,080 upheld fines.
However, public relations manager for the district council, Keith Ulyatt, said the local authority had only made £170,000 from the fines - but he refused to explain why.
He added: “Signage telling drivers the bridge is for buses and taxis only is clear. If drivers flout traffic laws, whether it's jumping a red light or driving in a bus lane, they should expect to be fined.
“The total number of fines issued for drivers crossing Parkway Bridge is 6,184, with 104 being cancelled on appeal. The money totals £170,000 which forms part of car park income which is used to offset the operational cost of running car parks.”
Since the bus lane was introduced, the council’s camera has caught between 16 and 17 motorists using the bridge illegally per day.
However, Mr Ulyatt said the introduction of a bus lane had improved the town’s traffic flow.
He added: “Over the past year, traffic management in the town has been greatly improved as a result of opening the Parkway Bridge for buses and taxis only. The new bus route has enabled full pedestrianisation of the town centre.
“Public transport has a dedicated through route, without the traffic queues which had previously caused problems in the Wharf area. And most through traffic is using the A339 which it should do. Introducing a bus lane for the bridge has been a key part of this success and that was the intention.”
Last February, three months after the bus lane was introduced, West Berkshire Council cancelled a number of fines after it emerged that the signage had not been properly illuminated after dark.