Newcastle City Council has warned that a review into its bus lane signage contains a ‘number of legal errors’.
Last month, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal published a review into the council’s signage for the northbound bus lane on John Dobson Street.
However, the council criticised the fact the review took over three years to complete and failed to give strong reasons why the signage was considered to be inadequate.
The council said that despite containing a number of potential legal errors, it would not be seeking a judicial review over the report as it would be a lengthy and expensive process.
Cllr Arlene Ainsley, the council’s cabinet member for transport and air quality, said: ‘After waiting three long years for the chief adjudicator to review her findings, I am bitterly disappointed that the Traffic Penalty Tribunal has failed to provide any real substance or meaningful learnings in their report.
’Our legal team have scrutinised it closely, and there are so many gaping holes in this report, that we are minded to seek a judicial review and challenge it in court. However, as this could take years and at considerable expense to the public purse, I believe it is not in the public interest to take this course of action.’
The council is reviewing the signage and has agreed to refund drivers who paid a penalty charge notice for this specific bus lane.
