Bus lane cameras issue thousands of fines

The camera positioned at the junction of Westgate Road and Neville Street caught out more motorists than any other in the city, according to council data

Thousands of drivers have been fined for using bus lanes around Newcastle’s Central Station, figures have revealed.

The camera positioned at the junction of Westgate Road and Neville Street caught out more motorists than any other in the city, with 8,635 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued in the last year.

A total of 34,914 fines were handed out between spring 2023 and 2024 equating to at least £1.2m of penalties, according to council figures from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Newcastle City Council said income left over from bus lane penalty charges could only be used to improve public transport, local environment and highways projects.

A further 5,878 fines were issued for the nearby Neville Street camera, making it the fourth most prolific among the city’s 10 bus lane cameras.

Enforcement measures began in October 2022 in the two lanes near the station after years of council bosses choosing not to issue any fines in the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

There were 6,503 drivers caught in the northbound bus lane in John Dobson Street, where penalties were reinstated in 2021 following a long-running saga that saw new signs and markings installed, and 6,414 on the the Tyne Bridge slip road.

A large portion of the fines were distributed around Newcastle's John Dobson Street

The standard bus lane fine is £70, but that is halved if the charge is paid within 21 days.

A spokesperson for the Labour-led council said: "Bus lanes help us to manage the transport network and provide smooth and reliable journey times for bus passengers.

"This is particularly important for our city as we seek to encourage people out of their cars and on to public transport during the four-year Tyne Bridge restoration works.

"All surplus income from bus lane penalty charges are ring-fenced and can only be used to make improvements to public transport, local environment and highways projects."