'Sterling efforts' see 900 fined for using bus lanes

Published on Monday 21 January 2008 09:30

MORE than 20 drivers a day have been hit with fines since the council's parking attendants took over the job of patrolling bus lanes from police traffic wardens.

New figures have revealed that 900 motorists were hit with parking tickets in the six weeks after the council took over control of greenways in November.

The majority of drivers were ticketed for stopping in the Greenways. Parking in a free bay for longer than permitted and waiting in a loading bay when not loading, were also common reasons for fines.

A total of 17 cars were towed away in the same period.

Lothian Buses today said the number of roadworks across the city at the moment meant it was too early for them to gauge what difference the "sterling efforts" of the city's attendants had made.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's transport leader, said: "Greenways and bus lanes play a vital part in keeping the road network flowing as freely as possible by giving buses priority over other road users during peak times.

"If vehicles park in them during busy times then buses are hindered, which causes congestion and lengthens journey times."

Police chiefs halved the number of wardens in July last year ahead of a transfer of the patrols to NCP Services. However, the transfer took five months to complete, and in the meantime there was an increase in rush-hour delays as drivers parked in the greenways.

The reduction in wardens will save the police 2.4 million over three years. Police-employed traffic wardens will still be responsible for fining motorists caught driving in bus lanes, although this is likely to change over the next few years when the council's CCTV network takes over.

Bruce Young, Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, said: "I am not surprised because they are in it for the money and it is in their own and NCP's interests because they want to issue more tickets.

"I still feel a fully-staffed traffic warden service was doing a good job and were good for waving people on or talking to people when they were going wrong."

Drivers caught parked on the Greenways face a fine of 60 – or 30 if paid within 14 days – and have to pay 105 to get their car out of the pound if towed away.

George McKendrick, Lothian Buses operations manager, said: "The roadworks across the city means it is hard to ascertain if significant benefits have been obtained from the sterling efforts of the council's enforcers."