Devious drivers who flout road laws by using a controversial bus lane on a congested town centre road during restricted hours are getting away scot-free - with police failing to fine a single motorist since 2012, a Bucks Free Press investigation can reveal.

A Freedom of Information request to Thames Valley Police found not one single fixed penalty notice has been handed out to drivers who disobeyed the time restrictions on the Loudwater to High Wycombe bus lane in the last six years.

Drivers are not permitted to use the bus lane, which runs along the heavily congested London Road, between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 6.30pm on weekdays – but our photographer spotted dozens of vehicles breaking the rules during a one-hour period yesterday morning.

Bucks Free Press:

Thames Valley Police confirmed they had no records of any fixed penalty notices being issued during the years specified – and are legally required to keep records of all fines issued. It comes after a Bucks Free Press investigation in late 2011 found the controversial measures were not being enforced.

At that time, just 34 motorists had been fined for illegally driving in the bus lane in the 12 years from 1999.

The controversial bus lane has faced criticism for lack of effectiveness in the years since it was introduced on March 3, 1997.

And in the 2011 investigation, 66 per cent of readers agreed the A40 bus lane should be axed.

Cllr Ray Farmer, whose ward includes part of the London Road, said it was hard for police to enforce the rules because there are no cameras monitoring it for drivers breaking the law.

He also questioned how effective the bus lane could be considering it cuts back into normal traffic queues at various points along the road.

He said: “Unless police are there to see it themselves, it is hard for them to do anything. Patrolling it is very difficult.

“Police should be speaking to the council if they have a problem with the way it is enforced and tell them they should do something about it.

“The trouble with the bus is it isn’t constant. There are breaks in it which make the effectiveness of it a lot less than it should be.

“I live off the London Road and it is in my ward and I do see people here and there driving in the bus lane.”

Cllr Farmer said issues along the busy road will only get worse as more housing developments pop up.

He added: “Everyone wants to build houses on every strip of green space they can find. We have got housing being built everywhere. It’s a problem because we are a town in a valley – there is really only one way in and one way out.”

Despite debates in previous years over whose responsibility it is to enforce the bus lane, Cllr Mark Shaw, transport chief at Bucks County Council, said it was up to police to issue fines.

He said: “While moving traffic offences are the responsibility of the police to enforce, my message to motorists is to always respect our bus lanes. Our public transport team does meet regularly with bus companies and we are not aware of any actual disruption to bus services in this area of High Wycombe.”

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Thames Valley Police will issue fixed penalty notices when drivers are seen to be in contravention of road regulations.

"A variety of measures, including the use of speed cameras and officers on patrol are used across the Thames Valley in order to ensure that roads are safe for motorists and pedestrians.

"We continue to focus our activity on areas where there are safety concerns."

Do you think the bus lane should be axed? Email stephanie.wareham@london.newsquest.co.uk.