Bath bus gate traffic restriction decision challenged

Plans for a second "bus gate" in Bath have been challenged.

Bath and North East Somerset Council wants to ban all vehicles except buses and taxis using the eastbound side of Dorchester Street.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority believes the £20,000 scheme will help reduce congestion.

Conservative members have called for a review of the decision because they believe it will increase congestion on the nearby A36 in Widcombe,

They argue the experiment should not go ahead until Rossiter Road is made two-way and are also calling for previously-proposed plans to widen the junction of North Parade and Pulteney Road to be implemented.

During the 18-month experiment the carriageway between St James Parade and the railway station would become a bus lane between 10:00 and 16:00.

The call-in notice means the plans have to be discussed by a cross-party panel of councillors to review the decision and to decide whether or not to ask the council's cabinet to rethink their plans.

A bus gate is already in operation in the city between Northgate Street and Pulteney Bridge between 10:00 and 18:00.

Motorists ignoring the order can be fined £60, although this is reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.