EDITOR’S COMMENT from this week’s Coventry Observer paper
The debacle over fining motorists entering bus gates – adjudged repeatedly by tribunal experts to be inadequately signed – is becoming farcical.
After councillor Jayne Innes again invited opponents to “read her lips” in denying faults, it emerged the tribunal had also repeatedly concluded PCN fine notices told drivers they would pay double if they appealed, contrary to the law.
Cue more ‘nothing wrong here’ stonewalling, by council highways director Colin Knight to this newspaper.
Even if the tribunal’s legal arguments are contestable, councils including Manchester and Leeds do things more fairly and transparently,
The council should amend misleading PCN wording and allow due process for appeals – or face further accusations that with million-pound fines they are recklessly cashing in.
