Preston city centre's controversial Fishergate bus lane looks set to stay
Councillors will discuss plans to turn the cameras back on as early as September
It looks like the controversial Fishergate bus lane in Preston City Centre is here to stay.
An independent tribunal rated it "inadequate" after more than 28 and a half thousand people were fined for using it in its first two months.
Now, plans to switch the cameras along the bus lane back on are going to be discussed by Lancashire County Council.
The council hasn't handed out any tickets since March as an inspector ruled the signs to warn drivers about the bus lane weren't clear enough.
Now, the authority's looking to make the bus lane permanent from the start of September after trialling it over Christmas last year.
They're putting up five new signs so it's clearer for motorists and if it gets the go-ahead they say they'll give drivers plenty of notice it's coming into force.
The plans are set to be discussed by the cabinet at a meeting next Thursday.
Phil Barrett, director of community services, said: "If the cabinet gives the go-ahead, we'll reintroduce camera enforcement, and carry out advertising and promotion to make people aware of these bus lanes.
"We know that many people are already aware of them, and if this is agreed then we're planning to do what we can to get the message out even further.
"Our aim is to secure compliance with the regulations, not to see anyone being caught, and cameras are an effective way to enforce them. There has been a significant increase in motorists ignoring these restrictions since camera enforcement was suspended.
"We’ve had support from businesses and bus operators, and we'll be changing the signing to address the adjudicators' findings."
Four large new signs have been added on Fishergate itself, as well as Fox Street, Lune Street and Chapel Street. A sign will also be added at the top of Butler Street.
Phil Barrett added: "We recognise that these bus lanes significantly affected people using the St George's Shopping Centre car park and in Avenham, so we've looked in detail at other measures, such as the removal of the bus lane on Church Street. "This which would add extra capacity and help people travelling to and from the city centre.
"We’re also seeking agreement from the cabinet to look into options for a new junction from Ringway onto Lune Street, providing an exit for cars from the St George's Shopping Centre car park.
"We believe that these changes would help to reduce some of the issues that we identified during the trial period and improve the overall experience in the city centre for drivers and pedestrians.
"The proposals for Lune Street are at an early stage and still need looking into in more detail, with public consultation as part of the process."
Lancashire County Council says the bus lanes have removed an average of 2,700 vehicles each day from the section between Mount Street and Corporation Street.