Gateshead town centre bus lane fines almost triple after flyover closure

There appears to have been a major spike in penalties from the High West Street bus gate following the sudden closure of the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover in December last year.

The flyover was shut due to fears that it was at risk of collapse as a result of decaying concrete and remains closed today, with the condemned structure earmarked for demolition.

New figures now reveal that thousands of motorists have since been handed a penalty charge notice (PCN) for driving in the nearby High West Street bus gate.

Birtley resident Neal Tinkler uncovered the data, after mistakenly finding himself in the bus lane while trying to follow a diversion route off Durham Road around the closed flyover on February 4 during a journey into Newcastle for a James Bay gig. 

The 39-year-old, who was fined £35 for the transgression by Gateshead Council, said he felt like he had “fallen into a trap” and decided to submit a freedom of information request to find out how many others had been caught out.

Council figures show that a monthly average of 578 PCNs were issued from the northbound High West Street bus gate between April and November last year.

But that number shot up to 1,617 in December, 1,524 in January, and 1,231 in February. Those 4,372 PCNs issued in a three month period have a total value of at least £153,000, assuming drivers paid the initial £35 fine.

Mr Tinkler, who has unsuccessfully appealed against his fine, has claimed that the bus lane is poorly lit and that there are not adequate warning signs on the approach to tell drivers to either turn off the road before the bus lane starts or perform a U-turn.

He has now called on Gateshead Council to take action to make the restrictions more obvious for drivers, particularly as the flyover closure continues and more people are diverted through the town centre.

Mr Tinkler said: “There is clearly a problem because they have got hundreds of people doing this. People don’t intentionally drive in a bus lane, nobody wants a fine. There is no benefit of going through there, it is not a shortcut. I am sure 99% of people are driving through there accidentally.

“They could have made the signage so much better. Some bus lanes in other cities have the road painted in a completely different colour.”

Mr Tinkler, who works for a chain of gyms, has lived in Birtley for around 15 years and used to drive over the flyover fairly regularly to get into Newcastle, but is not used to driving around Gateshead town centre.

He added: “People who are familiar with Gateshead town centre probably know the bus lane is there and can avoid it. But for the likes of me, I never go in there. In the time I have lived here I have been to Gateshead town centre probably two or three times – it is just not a place I go.” 

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A council spokesperson replied: “The regulations around bus gates and bus lanes have not changed since the Gateshead Highway flyover was closed to traffic in December. This High West Street bus gate is signposted in advance, to warn drivers that only buses and cycles may travel north through the traffic lights.

“When the flyover was closed, we ensured a full signposted diversion route was put in place using Arthur Street, Prince Consort Road and Charles Street. The council has communicated the flyover closure to drivers in a comprehensive manner, and the vast majority of drivers have used the diversion routes we recommended.

“We are happy to reinforce our previous messaging around bus priority, to ensure drivers are aware of routes where they are not allowed to drive.”

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