‘Busgate’ motorists to have cash refunded

HUNDREDS of motorists in Swansea fined for driving along a road diversion are to get their money back.

The U-turn by council bosses in Swansea is thought likely to cost them around £18,000.

The move follows months of wrangling over the so-called “busgate” affair, which centred on a major road improvement scheme near the city’s Liberty Stadium.

The council had put in place a series of diversions while re-surfacing work was under way. It meant hundreds of motorists driving through a bus gate that was controlled by an enforcement camera.

In total, 784 tickets were issued and 540 have since paid the fine.

A number of motorists who appealed against the ticket took their case to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Some subsequently had their appeals upheld.

However, it also emerged yesterday that the latest appeal made by a motorist was overturned by the tribunal, who supported the council’s actions and those of the contractor, confirming that the diversion was correct and signage appropriate.

Even so, each will now get their £35 fines refunded as the authority draws a line under the saga.

Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said: “We fully believe that the traffic arrangements put in place were sufficient, and our data shows that in the main more than 80% of traffic using that route during the closure followed the diversion.

“The latest decision by the tribunal now appears to back up our actions.

“But we can’t ignore the high number of tickets that were issued and accept some motorists were confused. This is a one-off goodwill gesture.”