COLCHESTER’S High Steward says he is ready for his day in court after being slapped with a fine for driving through a bus gate... despite restrictions being suspended due to roadworks.
Sir Bob Russell was issued with a fixed penalty notice after driving through the bus lane in Maldon Road at 8.28pm.
Although the Maldon Road bus gate is operational, it had been temporarily suspended during certain hours whilst resurfacing works were completed in nearby Butt Road.
Sir Bob said signs had been put up at the Maldon Road bus gate to state restrictions had been suspended between 8pm and 6am due to the roadworks.
He has written to Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley to express his anger at the fine - while the council has since issued an apology and said all the wrongly issued fines will be scrapped.
Sir Bob said: “I can only assume the county council’s left hand which issues such penalties was not aware the right hand of Essex County Council had advised motorists the bus lane had been suspended.”
Sir Bob, who is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said he has been driving for more than 50 years without a single offence.
He went on: “I am not paying. If necessary I will will have my day in court.”
Sir Bob also questioned how much the “administrative fiasco” would end up costing taxpayers.
“Why should I have to go to the time and trouble, and cost of a stamp, to write an appeal when it is the incompetence of Essex County Council which is responsible?," he added.
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A spokesman for Essex County Council admitted the error and apologised to those issued with fines.
He added: “Some Penalty Charge Notices have been issued in error after drivers travelled through Maldon Road bus lane as part of an official diversion route and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“PCNs are no longer being issued and we are in the process of cancelling those that have already been sent out. Letters will be sent to anyone affected to confirm that they will not be expected to pay a fine in this instance. We are already in the process of putting new measures in place to prevent this from happening again, including looking at ways to automate notification of any bus lane suspensions.”
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