Revealed, the four towns not giving bus lane fines

THE areas of Greater Manchester where no bus lane fines were issued by councils in a year have now been revealed.

- JAMES HOLT

Data obtained exclusively by the M.E.N. showed that four local authority areas – Wigan, Trafford, Bolton and Rochdale – issued no Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) in the last financial year.

This is, in part, because some councils do not have powers to issue penalties to drivers and that others choose not to actively enforce fines or do not have measures in place to do so.

However figures have also revealed that in total, between April last year and the end of March this year, more than 325,000 fines were still issued by local councils across the region, accruing more than £8.2m in revenue.

Fines range between £60 and £70 but are typically reduced if paid within a specified period.

Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) were submitted by the M.E.N to every local authority area within Greater Manchester, requesting the number of bus lane fines issued within the 12-month period and the amount of cash generated from the penalty payments.

Manchester city council was the highest, issuing a total of 216,800 PCNs to unauthorised vehicles entering the bus lanes.