"Hidden traffic camera caught 1,500 drivers in one week"

[dutchman]

An astonishing 1,500 fines were issued to drivers using a controversial new bus lane in just one week – thanks to a camera hidden by a tree.



The sneaky camera caught hundreds of motorists on a stretch of Stoney Road, near Coventry railway station, where cars were banned.

Residents in Cheylesmore accused the council of using the ‘‘bus gate’’ as a cash cow to balance the books. But council leaders have denied the accusation, saying the new bus lane was brought in after concerns that the street was becoming a rat-run.

The 1,500 fines – of either £30 or £60 – were issued in the bus lane’s first week of enforcement a fortnight ago.

Cheylesmore councillor Kevin Foster,the Conservative opposition leader said they would total £45,000 if all paid within a fortnight, and £90,000 if not.

The new enforcement camera is hidden in a tree at the foot of the railway bridge where the bending 20-metre bus lane now restricts traffic to a one-way single lane, prompting complaints.

Drivers have been snapped entering the bus lane rather than turning right into Manor Road, or turning right out of Manor Road into the bus lane.

Coventry City Council leaders say the bus gate and associated traffic restrictions - including a one-way system and 20mph speed limit - were a response to residents’ concerns their streets were becoming a rat-run, which would become worse with current changes to the ring road in front of the station.

The first week of fines followed a four week “amnesty” period after the bus lane opened - when drivers received warning letters, rather than fines.

Labour councillor Lindsley Harvard, city services cabinet member, said: “We sent thousands of warning letters to drivers who encroached on the bus lane.

“That shows our intention is not to use this as a cash cow. People need to get used to using it as a bus lane which they shouldn’t be on. Now they won’t get a warning letter.

“The camera has been put in a place where it is not unsightly. Signs are up warning drivers about it.”

Work has been on-going for weeks at the front of the station, at junction six of the ring road.

Some residents say a combination of that work, and the bus gate, have created new traffic dangers, and simply moved traffic congestion onto other residential streets.

A pedestrian crossing across the ring road is to replace the subway to Greyfriars Green and a spruced up Hertford Street into the city centre - all designed to give a more attractive welcome to visitors arriving from the train station.

Measures for up to 15,000 office jobs nearly as part of the planned Friargate development also include preventing traffic from turning right onto the ring road from Warwick Road.

Richard Bradford, of Ulverscroft Road, wrote to our letters page that the “dangerous” Stoney Road bus lane creates an “almost blind right turn into Quinton Road”.

Others complain a concrete island has created dangers, with oncoming cars meeting buses having to swing to turn left into Manor Road.

Mr Bradford said: “No wonder so many local residents are defying this imposed dangerous stupidity and driving through the bus lane, possibly several times a day.

“This must bring glee to the genius who came up with the idea as they will all be fined thanks to the hidden enforcement camera, tucked away behind a tree.

“This isn’t about road safety it is about revenue generation via enforced stupidity and that is nothing short of a scandal.”

Sue Harrower, who works in Manor Road, said: “It must be a real money spinner.”

Geoff Bowers, of Armorial Road, Styvechale, said: “It’s that time when budgets have to be used up and mad plans are hatched to do so.”

Wendy Harrisson, of Stoney Road, said the bus lane had tackled speeding, congestion and difficulties crossing in her street and Humphrey Burtons Road.

She said wrong use of the bus lane by motorists had now subsided after the initial weeks.

[dutchman]

Sneaky Coventry road camera hidden in tree smashed and taken down

A ROAD camera in Coventry dubbed “the sneakiest in Britain” has been removed after being vandalised.

It follows our exclusive story last week revealing the camera hidden in a tree – which led to 1,500 motorists being issued with fines in its first week.

Coventry City Council workers were spotted yesterday morning taking down the camera – which captures cars unlawfully entering the new bus lane at Stoney Road, Cheylesmore, behind the train station.

But Labour councillor Lindsley Harvard, city services cabinet member, insisted there had been no U-turn on the camera or the controversial new bus gate on a bending 20-metre stretch of road over a railway bridge.

He said it had been smashed by vandals – but would be replaced as soon as possible.

Coun Harvard said: “It was vandalised on Wednesday and it’s been taken down so it can be replaced. I believe it was smashed, so we’ve brought it down and we’ll look at it.

“We may need a camera to watch the camera,” he joked.

“Whoever has damaged it has been highly anti-social and irresponsible.

“We will have to replace it, and we will do that very quickly.”

Asked if the council would now consider scrapping the camera after the publicity, or re-positioning it so it is less hidden, he said: “There is a difference between a camera there to persuade people not to speed at accident blackspots which need to be visible, and a camera that records the number of people who veer into a bus lane.

“We were responding to a petition brought to council by Conservative Cheylesmore councillors Hazel Noonan and Kevin Foster.

“We said at the time we introduced the bus gate that we would monitor it.

“We will see how new lights across the ring road at the front of the station operate when all the road works have gone.

‘‘We will then have more information to base decisions on.”

Many residents are happy with the bus gate – which is well signed and includes 20mph speed limits – designed to prevent motorists using residential streets as a rat run.

But other residents and businesses complain it, and the ring road hold-ups, have created confusion, danger, and simply moved congestion elsewhere.

[Olive]

Just been done by the stoney road camera never had a clue it had changed around there , but ok I got done be what I'm angry about us cause I never paid I've been done £90 my problem is I never had the first notice about this what a disgrace Cov council and Royal Mail are ( easy targets)

[dutchman]

Sorry to hear that Olive but to the forum in any case