Burst water main delays fines for using bus gate

The bridge is restricted to many motorists, but there is no physical 'gate' preventing traffic passing through

A burst water main has delayed the introduction of fines for motorists using a city centre bridge.

The Mill Road bridge bus gate in Cambridge is prohibited to motor vehicles except buses, emergency services, taxis and blue badge holders' registered vehicles.

After an extended period for drivers to get used to the new layout, those who ignored the rules were due to face fines from Tuesday.

However, the cameras will be disabled while work to fix a burst water main is under way.

The bus gate is in place on Mill Road bridge, which goes over the railway line on one of the main roads heading in and out of the city centre

Cambridgeshire County Council said a utility company had asked it to disable the cameras while traffic is sent over the bridge as part of a diversion route.

The work is expected to finish on Wednesday and enforcement of the bus gate has been suspended until it is complete.

Restrictions have been in place since December, but the council had given drivers an extended period to get used to the layout.

Neil Shailer, vice-chair of its highways and transport committee, said: "Nobody wants to be fining people, which is why we introduced the restriction in a measured way."

The council stepped up its warnings about the introduction of the fines in early February, sending official notices to those who broke the rules.

"We're now moving to the next stage, if a vehicle is not exempt, a penalty charge notice (PCN) may be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle," said Shailer.

In line with other bus gates in the city, there is no physical 'gate' preventing traffic from passing onto the bridge.

Those who are exempt from charges include blue badge holders, but they need to register for exemption using a form on the council's website.

The council has previously said "more than 360 local care providers" had been contacted about exemptions for vehicles of care workers carrying out home visits in the Mill Road area.