Colchester North Station bus lane fine leaves motorist angry

The driver, who does not live in the area and wished to remain anonymous, was fined £35 when he drove through the North Station Road bus lane when visiting his son, who now lives in the city.

He and his wife had made the short journey from the Premier Inn in Cowdray Avenue at 9.30pm, traveling south through road.

“I was shocked to receive a penalty for entering the bus lane," he said.

“The road markings on the roundabout entering North Station Road were so badly worn they were invisible.

“Without proper road markings directing motorists away from the bus lane, the only time you see the signs is when you are just about to enter the bus lane and by then it is too late.

“This seems to me to be a very disingenuous road and road marking layout made by Essex County Council.

“The council has worked hard to fleece money out of law-abiding, hardworking motorists by this road setup and I hope they use the £35 wisely.”

Site - the roundabout on the approach to the North Station Road bus lane (Image: Public)

The resident later sent an FOI request to the council to find out how much money has been generated in fines from the bus lane.

It showed from July 2021 to June 2022, the bus lane made £289,057, whereas from July 2022 to June 2023 it made £446,227. An increase of 54 per cent.

In the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic, from June 2018 to June 2019, the bus lane made £233,316.01. An increase of 91 per cent compared to last year.

The motorist added: “The FOI data will be distorted by reduced traffic volumes during the Covid lockdowns so these years can be viewed in many ways.

“However, assuming similar traffic volumes pre and post-Covid, this shows an almost doubling in fines.

“I can only assume this is due to the poorly maintained road markings gradually disappearing.

“The current layout and signage are a trap for motorists.

“It generates nearly half a million pounds a year for Essex County Council which has no intention of improving it.”

Essex County Council Responds

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: "Bus gates are necessary to improve the journeys and travel time of buses, encouraging the people of Essex to use this important transport which, by taking cars off the road, improves air quality and the environment, key aims of ECC’s Safer, Greener, Healthier campaign.

“Significant work has taken place to increase signage at all junctions leading to bus gates in Essex.

“For the council, bus gates are about compliance rather than income and success would be to issue no fines at all, because then people were not contravening the restrictions but instead being more thoughtful about their journeys and the routes they take.

“All money generated by PCNs is ring-fenced and reinvested to help improve public transport, roads and the transport network across Essex.”