Disabled student challenges council over bus gate

The Corporation Street bus gate went live in May 2024

A disabled student is planning to take legal action against Lancashire County Council over a controversial bus gate.

Chris Fisher, from Accrington, attends the University of Central Lancashire and needs to drive between his lectures in different buildings.

The 52-year-old, who has received two fines since the bus gate was installed on Corporation Street in 2024, said signage was not clear, adding: "This bus lane has carved a line right between two important parts of the campus, now I have to do a 1.5 mile (2.4km) detour."

Lancashire County Council (LCC) said it did not want to issue fines "as they are only there as a deterrent" and it was encouraging drivers to follow the signs.

Chris Fisher says the situation is "making me almost not want to continue this course"

The bus gate was installed last year to give priority to buses, hackney cabs and cycles in a bid to ease congestion.

Mr Fisher also claimed: "There's still road markings from before the bus lane was implemented, directing vehicles to turn right, these signs should be clear."

He added: "It's making me almost not want to continue this course."

He is now calling on Lancashire County Council to change the signage and says he is fundraising to take the authority to a judicial review.

This is where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public authority, which includes local councils, and, if upheld, could see LCC have to refund all the fines.

One of the signs Chris Fisher says is 'misleading'

Fines were sent out from June and the bus gate netted LCC £968,415 in three months.

Between October and November it generated a further £600,000.

Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport said: "We have seen a significant drop in the number of unauthorised vehicles driving through the bus gate."

He added, "The bus gate on Corporation Street uses signs which meet all the legislative requirements and are consistent with our other bus restrictions that are enforced."