New £70 fines for driving in A259 bus lanes

Motorists driving in bus lanes on two sections of the A259 will now be fined, a local authority has said.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said it would start enforcing bus lanes in St Leonards and Telscombe Cliffs using cameras, in a bid to improve bus travel.

It said a £70 penalty charge notice would be issued to anyone illegally using the bus lanes.

"Enforcing these bus lanes on such a key coastal route will help to ease congestion and improve air quality by encouraging people to make use of the more reliable bus services," said Claire Dowling, ESCC's lead member for transport.

"The misuse of bus lanes affects journey times for passengers and the reliability of public transport, as well as being frustrating for those motorists who follow the regulations," she said.

Enforcement, which started on Tuesday, will be in effect 24 hours a day, ESCC added.

The enforceable bus lane in St Leonards runs from the start of Grand Parade to the western most junction with Warrior Square.

In Telscombe Cliffs, the bus lane runs along the South Coast Road from the junction of Ambleside Avenue to the border of Brighton & Hove.

Bus lanes are identified by road markings and signs, and are also separated from normal traffic lanes by a solid white line.

Money from the fines will be used to cover the scheme's costs and reinvested into local transport, said ESCC.

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