Chris Bagnall, a builder from Stoke-on-Trent, was driving along Ashton Road on the way to work in Oldham when he was hit by two fines for going into the end of a bus lane. He said he ‘did not think anything of it’ until the fines came through.
He said he never made the mistake again but feels he has been unfairly caught out. The bus lane comes to an end just before a junction with Bellfield Avenue.
He later submitted a Freedom of Information request to Oldham council which showed the single camera issued 4,205 penalty charge notices and raked in £95,014 in revenue between September 2024 and August 2026. In May 2026 alone, the camera issued 290 fines generating £8,026 in 31 days.
He said: “In both instances, I merely moved over a couple of metres before the bus lane officially ended to prepare for the merge into the general traffic lane. There was no bus present, no queue was jumped, and zero advantage was gained.
“Because the council did not issue the first notice until days later, I was hit with back-to-back fines before I had any opportunity to know the lane taper was being monitored.”
Mr Bagnall added: “When a single camera catches over 4,200 motorists on the same road, it isn’t keeping traffic moving or protecting public transport.
“It is acting as an automated revenue trap that penalises ordinary working motorists for harmless manoeuvres at an awkward road taper.
“I think it’s set up to catch as many people as possible and create revenue for the council. I am coming here every day and every day I see three or four cars go in there.
“I just think all these people are getting fines.”
An Oldham council spokesperson said: “Bus lanes help improve bus reliability and reduce congestion on our roads, and drivers are expected to follow the restrictions in place. Where a vehicle is driven in a bus lane during restricted hours, a penalty charge notice may be issued.
“We would encourage all motorists to observe road signs and restrictions to help keep traffic flowing and support public transport users.”
