MOTORISTS are being warned that they face heavy fines – enforced by new cameras – if they contravene major lanes in Hyndburn.

Part of the Pennine Reach Transport corridor will see two new bus lanes created along Whalley Road.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And in order to ensure the route is kept free of other traffic, Lancashire County Council transport bosses have drawn up plans for new traffic orders.

If drivers do not take heed of the planned restrictions, between Clayton Hall Drive and Warwick Avenue, and Brisbane Street and Blackburn Road, they could face penalty notices of £60.

Before such an initiative can be progressed, the county council must be given permission by the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, Chris Anslow, the county council’s public transport development manager, said: “As part of the Pennine Reach scheme, provision was included for Lancashire County Council to implement a trial bus lane enforcement system.

“This covered the purchase and installation of three cameras and the supply of back office software for one review computer.”

Because only a full scheme would enable penalty charges to be enforced and collected, the authority is dispensing with the trial nature of the scheme.

Mr Anslow added: “One of the major elements of the Pennine Reach scheme within Hyndburn is the proposal to introduce two bus lanes in the Clayton-Le-Moors area.

“The proposed bus lanes are crucial to helping buses travel along Whalley Road and improve reliability.”

In a letter to the Transport Secretary, county Cllr John Fillis, highways cabinet member, said: “Initially the county council is not considering enforcement of other bus lanes within the authority area, but this may be considered later.”

County councillors have been told that similar schemes have resulted in about 3,600 penalty notices being issued over the course of a year.

If motorists pay the notices within 14 days the charge drops to £30 – though it can rise to £90 if the fine is not met within the stated period.

The public consultation for the Clayton Hall Drive to Warwick Avenue lane has ended but the Brisbane Street to Blackburn Road exercise will not commence until next January.