Coventry to get new bus gate in city centre

Coventry city centre is set for a new bus gate

A new bus gate on Greyfriars Road in Coventry could see motorists being fined in the future.

The measure will come into force on 8 October but drivers will not be fined for transgressions immediately as a grace period of a few weeks is being allowed by the city council for those who do drive through.

The bus gate will be the seventh to come into operation in the city.

John Seddon, city council traffic department officer, said the key message to drivers was to choose their route into the city centre.

He said: "Use the ring road and come in off the best junction for your car park, whether you're going to Salt Lane car park or [the] Skydome".

The enforcement of bus lanes is carried out by Fixed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

After identifying those vehicles that are not allowed, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued by post from Coventry City Council to the registered owner/hirer of the vehicle that is in contravention of regulations.

For a bus lane contravention, the charge is £70, reduced by 50% to £35 if paid within 21 days.

Kyran Patel works at a letting agents on Warwick Row and says the communication about the bus gate could have been better.

Kyran Patel, a letting agent at Sheldon Bosley Knight which has an office on Warwick Row, which connects to Greyfriars Road, said there had been a lack of information from the council about the new bus gate, a situation he described as frustrating.

"We found out last week - it was a surprise that the bus gate has been initiated. It's good to know we're not getting fined for a month at least," the 25-year-old said.