From the deputy editor: 17.12.16

Motorists continue to ignore the new bus lane on Fishergate, Preston, and are being repeatedly fined.

It is now just less than two months since the new regulations went in place but with 8,000 drivers fined in the first week for continuing to use Fishergate between the hours of 11am and 6pm, it’s still under raging debate.

Drivers have accused the county council of raking in money from the fines and it certainly seems to have been lucrative - but is this a matter or greed or driver ineptitude?

Many drivers argued the penalities were being unfairly levelled at drivers with lack of road markings and badly sited signage.

This was robustly defended by the county council but now the motorists organisations AA has weighed in, accusing county hall of ‘setting a trap’ for drivers.

A spokesman went as far as to describe the execution of the new road rules as just that ‘an execution’.

It is now urging drivers to appeal against the fines.

However highways bosses argue that the bus lane has been designed within the requirements of the law - but will consider any challenges on their individual merits.

Whichever direction this saga goes in next - we will will following at the LEP.

But it is certainly advisable to avoid the bus lane in the daytime!