The amount of cash Bolton Council made from fining motorists
A Freedom of Information request submitted by The Bolton News has shown the amount fines handed out – and how much the council made from it.
Bolton Council started enforcing bus lanes in 2023 – starting with St Helens Road.
In 2023, 837 people were fined bringing in a total revenue of £32,654.64 to the council – a year later, almost five times more were being fined.
In 2024, 4,149 people were fined and the council brought in £163,249.30.
Enforcement action on more roads was started in 2024, with drivers on St Georges Road, Deane Road and Deansgate facing fines.
Barry Sloan, from Bolton Advanced Motorists, said: “The bottom line is, if they’re clearly marked, you will get fined if you decide to do that.
“It doesn’t just happen in Bolton – it happens nationally.
“If it’s a breach of the highway code, it’s a breach of the highway code, it’s not particularly contentious.”
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Barry said that for motorists who claim they were only in the lane for valid reasons, such as avoiding an emergency vehicle, “common sense” should prevail.
He said: “In the past there have been cases where someone has been at traffic lights when an emergency vehicle has come and this has caused them to go through the red light and they’ve been sent a fine.
“But if you appeal it, usually common sense will decide.”
Barry said that bus lanes are necessary to stop the congestion problems.
He said: “You only need to look at the congestion in Manchester.
“With buses that are supposed to run every ten minutes, you can get a lot of people in and out of Manchester.”
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Bus lanes are utilised to prioritise our network for public transport and those fined have illegally used the bus lane.”
Bus lane cameras were brought in on a phased basis from October 9, 2023, using automatic number plate recognition to capture the details of any vehicle driving illegally in the lane.
Motorists can face fines of £70 for driving on a bus lane – which is reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
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Cllr Hamid Khurram, the executive cabinet member for highways, said that the rise in fines is necessary to ensure the lanes are used effectively.
He said: “Bus lanes are designed to improve public transport efficiency and encourage more residents to use buses, reducing congestion and promoting a greener, more sustainable approach to travel in our borough.”
He said that the fines will be reinvested into transport infrastructure to help improve road safety and public transport.
Cllr Khurram said: “We are committed to ensuring that our roads jobs” target=”_blank”>work for everyone, and I encourage all motorists to be mindful of bus lane regulations.
“These measures are in place to protect bus users and ensure that we can provide an efficient public transport system that benefits all residents in Bolton.”
Source – INDIA TV
