Will Hull push ahead with bus lane cams?

NEW cameras could soon be introduced along Hull's key roads to help enforce bus lanes.

In January, a delegation comprising senior Hull City Council staff and Peter Shipp, chairman and chief executive of EYMS Group, joined a fact-finding trip to Nottingham, where bus priority measures have been installed successfully in a bid to speed up traffic flow.

Nottingham City Council has placed cameras on main arterial routes to catch motorists who use bus-only lanes.

Now, officials in Hull are expected to decide within weeks whether to push ahead with a proposal to link-up with Nottingham City Council.

Councillor Martin Mancey, the portfolio holder with responsibility for Hull's roads, said: "Officers have been looking at the financial viability.

"Clearly, we do not want a scheme that will cost a lot of money when we do not have the funds.

"It's possible that we could form a partnership with Nottingham, in terms of the administration side to any scheme and cameras, which could potentially see us share costs."

Cllr Mancey admitted bus lanes are controversial, but stressed too many motorists are flouting rules and driving in them when they are in operation.

He said: "A lot of law-abiding motorists do not like bus lanes, but they tend to get more irate when they see other motorists misusing them.

"For that reason, we are looking at ways to enforce the lanes."

Cllr Mancey said officers had carried out a survey to discover the extent of the problem.

"The actual level of infringement was higher than I expected," he said.

"So it is something we should look at."

Cllr Mancey said he hoped for a decision by the summer recess next month.

He said: "By recess, we should have made a decision.

"Obviously, with scarce resources, we need to be able to justify our decisions.

"We may conclude what is being proposed is a good idea, but not something to pursue at this moment in time.

"We are looking at a six-figure sum to get the scheme up and running."

Mr Shipp has always maintained that if more people are to be persuaded to ditch their cars for public transport, the city will need a much more efficient bus service.

He said previously: "I see no reason why a similar system (to Nottingham's scheme), with proper consultation with drivers and users of public transport, could not be introduced in Hull."

Nottingham has a variety of bus lanes, which are in operation for varying lengths of time, ranging from peak hours only to 24 hours a day.

Cameras catch motorists who flout the rules and, when cases are proven, fines of £30 are issued.

Civic leaders in Nottingham told January's delegation the cost of implementing their system was about £200,000.

However, the costs are being recouped in fines.