Huddersfield bus lane hotspots as 6,000 drivers caught

Motorists are still grappling with the controversial bus gates in Huddersfield town centre, which were installed in 2016 to stop drivers blocking key bus routes.

The number of drivers caught has reduced over the years, but thousands are still hit with fines each year. Critics of the bus gates claimed it discouraged people from visiting the city center and claimed the idea was simply a “money-making” scheme.

Kirklees Council issued 6,409 fines to drivers in the last 12 months on seven bus lanes.

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Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK revealed that the number of penalty notices (PCNs) issued by Kirklees Council amounted to at least £224,315 – with drivers paying the minimum £35.

The standard bus lane fine in the borough is £70, but it is halved if the charge is paid within 21 days.

Kirklees Council revealed that between April 6, 2023 and April 5, 2024, a total of 1,626 drivers failed to pay within the allotted time – therefore likely to have paid the £70 fine. If this is the case, then the council collected £281,225 in bus lane fines in the last financial year alone.

The amounts are much lower than in previous years. In their first year, the bus gates racked up £951,000 in fines. And in 2019-20 it was £2,303,000.

Below are the worst points of interest for bus lane fines, together with the number of fines in 2023-2024.

• High Street, Huddersfield – 245
• Market Street, Huddersfield – 993
• Market Street, junction with Westgate, Huddersfield – 872
• Westgate, junction with Station Street, Huddersfield – 1982
• St George’s Square, Huddersfield – 2,309
• Kirkgate East Huddersfield – 6
• Kirkgate West Huddersfield – 2

Yorkshire Live asked Kirklees Council to comment on the latest figures.

In a statement, David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “Bus gates in Huddersfield town center have been in place for a number of years and have succeeded in restricting the flow of traffic through the town, keeping it safe for pedestrians and allow our buses to run freely.

“The number of fines has fallen in recent years as drivers are more aware of bus gates and plan their journeys accordingly.” Some local authorities in Yorkshire issued significantly more fines for bus lanes compared to Kirklees.

Leeds Council handed out 10,593 over the same period, while Sheffield handed out a staggering 118,953 bus lane fines. The worst hotspot in Sheffield was Arundel Gate (North East Bound) off St Paul’s Place Service Road where 65,946 fines were given. Bradford handed out 4,528 fines and Doncaster 13,444. Full bus lane fine details can be found here.

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