Cambridge Bus Gate: Warning Period Initiated for Non-Compliant Drivers

A council has announced that drivers failing to adhere to the regulations concerning a newly established bus gate will now be issued warnings, though no penalties will be imposed at this stage. Located at the Mill Road bridge in Cambridge, this bus gate restricts access for all motor vehicles, with the exceptions of buses, emergency services, taxis, and registered vehicles belonging to blue badge holders. Installation of the gate was finalized at the close of November, notwithstanding some disturbances caused by protestors. While the restrictions are currently active, Cambridgeshire County Council indicated that individuals violating these rules would initially only receive warnings. This approach aims to provide drivers time to become accustomed to the gate, with fines not anticipated to commence until March. The council stated its intention to implement a “phased approach to the bus gate restriction.” In an official statement, the council declared: “The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is now enforceable, and until the end of January we will be warning drivers, who are not exempt, not to drive over the bridge. “We’ll be monitoring with civil parking enforcement officers and signs will be displayed. This will be a warning period only – no fines or official warning notices will be issued.” The statement continued: “At the end of January, there will be a further warning period where non-exempt vehicles will receive warning notices only, and if they are exempt, will be encouraged to register online. “Fines are not expected to come into effect until March.” Alex Beckett, who chairs the council’s highways and transport committee, commented: “Mill Road is such an important street to all of us and we all know how sensitive this project has been.” He added: “In this extended warning period, we’re going to fix the vandalised Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and further engage and communicate with local care providers. “It will also allow additional time for drivers to get used to the restriction and give more time for those who are exempt to register.”