Bus gate campaigner successfully appeals three fines

Bristol resident Matt Sanders said he expects more appeals to follow

A man campaigning against a bus gate scheme, which has issued 50,000 fines since it began operating, has successfully appealed three fines.

Latest figures from the bus gate on Cumberland Road, show it has raised £1.6m for Bristol City Council - which has defended the scheme, despite fierce criticism.

The council has insisted the scheme is compliant and explained it is there to reduce air pollution and increase bus travel options, not to generate income.

Matt Sanders, who has spent hours investigating the bus gate, said he expects more appeals to follow.

The council said the signage surrounding the bus gate is "compliant"

"I pointed out in May, dozens of problems with all the signage," he said.

"The council's transport designers told the executive officers and the councillors that it was all fine.

"Now these three adjudicators have said the signage isn't correct and so the people who claimed it was are now discredited."

Mr Sanders said his winning cases can now be used as a template to help others who also wish to appeal any fines.

"I can just use exactly the same evidence for the cases that have won," he said.

"The council has made their bus gate unenforcable, because now anybody can appeal on this basis and they're bound to win," he added.

'Understand driver's frustration'

A council spokesperson said the signage installed surrounding the Cumberland Road bus gate is "compliant".

“The bus gate has not been put in place to generate income, it is there to help reduce air pollution and increase the number of bus travel options for residents," they said.

"We understand drivers frustration when, without their realisation, they have accumulated multiple fines before they have received the first letter, and while each appeal is considered on a case by case basis we will continue to be sympathetic to people in this situation.

“Despite winning 31 appeals and an adjudicator confirming that our signage is adequate, we continue to listen to driver’s feedback and make changes to the bus gate signage."