The Greater Manchester town where 8,000 motorists have fallen foul of new bus lane cameras in three months

Almost 8,000 motorists in Bolton have been fined – or warned – in the first three months of bus lane traffic enforcement at 14 sites across the borough. The bus lane cameras were activated on a phased basis on October 9 last year, with drivers who contravene during operating hours receiving warning letters or penalty charge notices.

Automatic number plate recognition cameras capture the registration plate details of all vehicles driving illegally along the bus lane. Speaking at a meeting of Bolton council on Wednesday, cabinet member Hamid Khurram revealed that for the initial six months of the scheme, drivers who contravene the restrictions for the first time will be sent warning letters and not fixed penalties, however, more than 1,000 drivers who fell foul more than once have been fined.

He said: “We all recognise the delay in bringing forward bus lane improvement I’m pleased things are now in place. From October, 6,688 warning notices and 1,067 penalty notices have been issued. We will continue to issue warning notices to all first contraventions for the first six months of the scheme. To manage the workload in the team it has been important to introduce enforcement on a phased basis with more bus lanes going live in the coming months. To date the penalty notices paid have resulted in income of £19,460.”

Coun Khurram denied that the cameras were being used as a money making scheme by the council. He, said: “Next year is expected to be the first year when parking services will achieve their income target as all lanes will be operational in terms of enforcement. But this is not about generation on income, congestion is the main reason. Tackling congestion will not only improve bus reliability, it will increase air quality and make roads safer.”

The hours of operation of bus lane enforcement are in line with Greater Manchester’s standard times which aim to bring consistency across the region. Most of the areas affected will be from 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm on week days with some operating all day every day.

The 14 bus lanes in Bolton and hours of enforcement

• Newbrook Road: West side from a point 162 metres north of its intersection with the extended northerly kerb-line of Wellington Road, to a point 82 metres south of its intersection with the extended southerly kerb-line of Fletcher Street - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• St Helens Road: East side from a point 213 metres north of the extended northerly kerb-line of Plodder Lane, to a point 42 meters north of the extended northerly kerb-line of Plodder Lane - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• St Helens Road: West side from a point 307 metres north of the extended northerly kerb-line of Plodder Lane, to a point 200 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb-line of Sonning Drive - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• St Helens Road: North side from a point 47 metres of the extended easterly kerb-line of Campbell Road, to a point 102 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb-line of Dean Church Lane - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• St Helens Road: South-east side from a point 34 metres north-east of the extended north-east kerb-line of Henry Lee Street, to a point 81 metres north-east of the extended north-easterly kerb-line of Morris Green Lane - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• St Helens Road: South-west side from a point 6 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb-line of Blackledge Street, to a point 46.5 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb-line of Church Avenue - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• Derby Street: North-west side from a point 19 metres north-east of the extended north-easterly kerb-line of Peace Street, to a point 99 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb line of University Way - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• Derby Street: North-west side from a point 15.7 metres north-east of the extended north-easterly kerb-line of Willows Lane, to a point 10 metres south-west of the extended south-westerly kerb-line of Gibbon Street - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• Deane Road: North side from a point 31 metres east of its intersection with the extended kerb-line of Gilnow Lane, to a point 28 metres west of its intersection with the extended western kerb-line of Salisbury Street - Mon to Fri 7am – 10am, 4pm-7pm
• Knowsley Street: East side from its intersection with the extended southerly kerb-line of St Georges Road, to a point 10 metres south of its intersection with the extended southerly building line of Corporation Street - All day all hours
• St Georges Road: South side from its intersection with the extended westerly kerb-line of Bridge Street, to its intersection with the extended easterly kerb-line of Knowsley Street - All day all hours
• Bridge Street: East side from its junction with St Georges Street, to its junction with Bow Street - All day all hours
• Deansgate: Between its junction with Bradshawgate and its junction with Crown Street - All day all hours
• Great Moor Street: Junction with Bradshawgate to its junction with Mawdsley Street - All day all hours