Council accused of perverting the law over 24-hour bus lane fines

READING Borough Council has been accused of ‘perverting the law’ by making money from bus lanes.

Michael Guinney, from Liverpool, was visiting a relative in Goring with his wife and was on his way to a hotel in Reading when he drove into a bus lane.

He was fined, but he argues the council has manipulated the law as the offence took place at 9.06pm on Friday, April 15.

He alleges someone at Reading Buses told him peak times finish at 9pm.

Mr Guinney said: “Bus lanes are created to give buses preferential access to roads to get passengers to and from their destination in peak times and to encourage people to use public transport.

“There is no need to restrict ordinary commuting traffic after 9pm, no need for a ‘bus lane’ after 9pm.”

When he asked about where the infraction occurred, Mr Guinney alleges he was put through to a contractor ‘in Manchester’.

“Reading Council and this thirdparty company are manipulating the law simply to make money.

“Politicians are elected into office to serve the needs of society, the people, and uphold the law in a fair and just way.

“Choosing to impose a 24-hour penalty for using a bus lane designed to give buses priority in peak time is not serving the needs of the people and is unfair and an unfair law is an unjust law which surely cannot be right?”

His complaint received a response from Cllr Tony Page, lead member for transport.

Some Reading Buses run for 24 hours, and Mr Guinney had fallen foul of one such bus lane in Bath Road.

He also said Mr Guinney had contacted him, other councillors and the mayor, and didn’t dispute evidence that he drove into the restricted bus lane.

Cllr Page said: “All bus lanes in Reading are fully signed in accordance with Department for Transport guidance. Not all bus lanes stop at a designated time.

“We would always encourage drivers who believe they have been wrongly issued a PCN to follow the appeal process which is clearly explained.

“In this instance, no appeal was made and the fine was paid.”

He continued: “We are extremely fortunate to have excellent and popular local bus services in Reading that are relied upon by many thousands of local residents.

“The Council enforces bus lanes to keep them free of traffic and reduce delays to bus passengers.

“By law the Council has to spend any income received on bus lane enforcement on other transport related projects and in Reading these including better road surfaces, street lighting, road safety and the concessionary bus fares scheme.”

Mr Guinney has been sent a reply containing the council’s Annual Parking Services report.