Leeds Vicar Lane bus gate: Council repays thousands of fines.

More than 11,000 fines issued to motorists after changes to a busy junction
in Leeds have been cancelled.

The £30 fixed penalty notices were sent out in the space of just over a
month after a new "bus gate" was brought in on Vicar Lane in the city
centre.

Thousands of people who paid the fines have been refunded while the council
has dismissed outstanding notices.

A councillor said the number of fines meant more measures making
restrictions clearer should be implemented.

The bus gate, which is a section of road blocked off to traffic except
buses, hackney carriages and cycles, was introduced last year to stop cars
turning off Vicar Lane onto Lady Lane between 05:00 and 22:00.

Between 1 November and 9 December 2021, a total of 11,159 fines were
issued, with 4,747 £30 tickets being paid, totalling £142,410, the council
confirmed.

The information was revealed after a question was submitted by councillor
Conrad Hart-Brooke, who said the "well-used" route should not have been
closed in the first place, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Helen Hayden, who was responding to the question, said the
camera, which was switched on in October, had now stopped issuing fines and
all paid tickets had been been refunded.

She added any outstanding notices would also be dismissed.

'Crazy waste'

Ms Hayden, who is executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
"While it is felt that the current markings and advanced notices are
legally sufficient, the volume of infringements indicates extra measures
should be considered.
"These measures are soon being drawn up with a view to approval and
implementation as soon as possible."

But Mr Hart-Brooke said there was "absolutely zero reason" to have closed
the route in the first place and Lady Lane should be re-opened. He said it
was a "crazy waste of resources" to issue the fines "before realising
something wasn't right".

He added: "Anyone stood on Vicar Lane for 10 minutes could see the problem.
This is real life, not Sim City."

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said it was working on plans to "enhance
the legibility of the new city centre restrictions with improved signage,
advance warnings and to raise levels of public awareness with an
accompanying promotion campaign".

<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-60125266>

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