Have YOUR say on future of controversial bus lane and enforcement camera in Northampton

Follow the link in this story and tell the council what YOU want to happen to the bus lane and its camera in Weedon Road
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ALL Northampton residents are being urged to share their views about a controversial bus lane and enforcement camera in the town.

West Northamptonshire Council has offered the public four choices to choose from to determine the future of the Weedon Road/St James' Road 24/7 bus lane.

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The council has not included a 'remove the camera' option. Instead, there is an 'other' option.

The bus lane in Weedon Road/St James' RoadThe bus lane in Weedon Road/St James' Road
The bus lane in Weedon Road/St James' Road

The four options are:

• Reduce the enforcement hours to a minimum period from 7.30am to 9.30am

• Reduce the enforcement hours to 7am to 7pm

• Leave the enforcement hours as they currently operate.

• Other

The survey, which runs until midnight on 2 November 2021, can be completed online at the council's consultation hub.

Click HERE to complete the survey and have your say on the future of the bus lane.

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Councillor Phil Larratt, who is in charge of the roads at WNC, said: “Bus lanes help to improve bus journey times, encouraging the use of public transport and reducing traffic and pollution. This review will help us to ensure we get the balance right for everyone.

“We are keen to hear the views of as many people as possible as part of this review, so please take a moment to complete the survey to help us in our decision-making.”

The feedback from the survey will be "considered" by WNC's cabinet as part of a bus lane review at their next meeting, the council said.

The bus lane has been in operation since August 2020.

The bus lane's enforcement camera, which is placed directly outside Westbridge Garage, has been in operation since February 15 of this year.

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Motorists face a £60 penalty for driving in the lane. If they do not pay that then it becomes a £90 fine and after that, bailiffs come to your house.

Some of the main contentions with the bus lane eported to the Chron are:

• Buses in the town do not run 24 hours a day

• The camera is strategically placed in a position where motorists have, for decades, been using the bus lane to undertake traffic turning into Westbridge Garage

• The bus lane causes more traffic than it alleviates

• There is only one camera along the 1.5 mile stretch of road, and that is right outside Westbridge Garage

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The Chron has reported extensively on the bus lane and the effects it has had on motorists.

A handful of the stories The Chron has covered include: