A DRIVER who was hit with a £70 fine after he used a Colchester bus lane has branded it a “money making scheme”.

Simon Price, who formerly lived in Wivenhoe, claims there is not enough warning about the bus lane in Hythe Station Road.

Mr Price has been hit with a £70 fine after using the road when he dropping his parents off in Wivenhoe on December 27.

The fine could rise to £105 if he does not pay it in time.

Mr Price, who has worked as a liability claims handler, has hit out at Essex County Council claiming there are not adequate signs.

He said: “There is only one sign before turning into Hythe Station Road informing drivers of the bus lane.

“I expected to be able to drive down to the sign and read it but I got fined.”

According to Mr Price, the sign informing about the camera at the bus lane can be easily overlooked, leaving drivers getting fined.

Some bus lanes operate on limited hours, which will be indicated on a sign below the blue bus lane sign.

Mr Price said: “There was no time mentioned and it was too late for me to turn around.

“You can’t do a three-point turn there because of the double white lines and you’re not allowed to wait either because of the double yellow lines there.

“Once you have committed to going on that road, you will get fined. And not only that but you will be fined already before the area and not when you’re in there.

“It should be designed to give drivers a way out. If you don’t know the area, it’s too late.

“Why is there no prior warning and double signs, clear and big, for drivers to see what lies ahead? Why can we not standardise signs nationwide to make it easier?”

The bus gate was enforced in 2017.

In the three years from 2018 to 2020, a Freedom of Information request found fines totalling £879,000 had been issued at the site.

“This just shows that it’s a money-making scheme,” said Mr Price.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Bus gates are necessary to improve green transport and travel time. They can take cars off the road by encouraging bus usage and improve air quality and the environment.

“Bust gates are about compliance rather than income. All money from penalty charge notices is ringfenced and reinvested to help improve public transport, roads and the transport network across Essex.

“Significant work has taken place to increase the signage at all junctions leading to bus gates in Essex. The location of all bus gates enforced by cameras can also be seen online at www.essexhighways.org/bus-lane-enforcement

“Drive-through videos showing advanced warning signs for bus gates around Hythe Station Road can be found at www.essexhighways.org/hythe-station-road-colchester.”