A nice little earner

GLOUCESTER County County has made £900,000 in fines from motorists crossing Llanthony Bridge over the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

Since traffic was banned from the bridge last year, month after month the council has continued to rake in fines from motorists for illegally crossing the bridge, with 23,000 being fined in the year it has been closed to vehicles.

Rising

Though there are warning signs, even more motorists use the bridge, with the income for the council rising, nearing a million pounds. Though the number dropped when the restriction came into force, it has started rising again, showing that motorists prefer the fine to the otherwise convoluted passage to get across the waterway.The charge is £60, but only half of that if paid within 14 days.

Traffic was banned last July, with the restriction being in force for a year, with cameras mounted to catch those still using the bridge.

Of course, it would be simple to erect a barrier, that of course could be operated by emergency vehicles, but then the income would cease!