Minor amendments for Wycombe bus lane - but CCTV not ruled out (From Bucks Free Press)

Minor amendments for Wycombe bus lane - but CCTV not ruled out

4:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Simon Farr

MINOR amendments will be made to the High Wycombe bus lane in the Spring, transport bosses have announced.

But Buckinghamshire County Council has not ruled out introducing CCTV to enforce the London Road bus lane in the future.

It follows a public consultation into the usage and effectiveness of the project by BCC’s Transport for Buckinghamshire.

Travelling into Wycombe on the A40, the lane will end near Homebase before the pedestrian crossing and left-hand turn into Chestnut Avenue.

The lane will come back into operation by High Wycombe Cricket Club.

The left-hand lane turning into the Wycombe Marsh Retail Park will be redesignated ‘buses and left turn only’, while road-markings and signage will also be refreshed.

Peter Hardy, BCC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “Consulting residents and the general public about proposed improvements to the transport system is vital.

“Our strategic bus lanes, such as the one on the London Road, are an important part of our strategy to tackle both current and future congestion for all road users.

“These minor changes represent a good balance between improving the bus lane and investing our limited resources wisely.”

Most responses to the council’s consultation backed the scheme and its current operating times – but comments were made about enforcement.

It followed an investigation by the Free Press in November, which revealed just 34 motorists had been ticketed for flouting the rules since the lane was introduced in 1997.

This is despite the BFP clocking 189 vehicles driving illegally in the lane during two one hour periods in November 2011.

Another Free Press study in 2007 recorded 37 cars and just one bus using the bus lane during a 20 minute slot in the evening rush-hour.

TfB said: “While infringement levels are lower than the general perception, TfB will continue to liaise with Thames Valley Police and consider CCTV as a potential longer term enforcement solution.”

Changes to the bus lane will be made in the Spring alongside the council’s We’re Working On It road repairs programme.