A driver was fined for going over a city centre bridge that is normally a bus gate, but that has temporarily reopened as part of a diversion. Traffic has been diverted across Bristol Bridge since August 1, when works at the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge resumed.
The restricted route is expected to remain open for around 10 weeks while the works costing nearly £3m take place on Redcliffe Bridge. However, a driver has claimed he received a fine for going over the bridge on the first day of the diversion.
Richard Hazell - who works in the city centre - received a fine for going over the bridge on August 1 at 6.45am and has appealed it. The Kingswood resident said that he was aware of the diversion already as a colleague had mentioned it to him.
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"I thought it was from the first and that was it, there was no time specified anywhere - just from August 1," he said. "I think it is absolutely disgusting.
"The Redcliffe bridge does need repairs, and I do not mind the fact there is a diversion in place, but they are not clear at all. It is very poorly signed and very little information has been given out.
"This has caused me no end of stress and I have had arguments about it with my wife. She was saying about paying it but I do not agree. I am now in a limbo while I wait to hear back."
Mr Hazell said that he noticed the signs were up the day before already, prior to the bridge being closed, but didn't drive over it then.
A Baldwin Street resident has claimed she received a fine for going over the bridge on Saturday, July 30. Despite the Redcliffe Bridge closure not starting until August 1, she claimed that the signs were already up on Saturday, July 30.
She said she approached the bridge from Victoria Street, adding there were a number of cars that were hesitating about going over the bridge.
"But that is what the sign said so we went over the bridge," she said. "As we were coming across it, I told myself that I should take pictures of the signs, but then I thought surely the council cannot be this incompetent - and then the fine arrived."
The resident said she has appealed and described what has happened as a waste of time and money. The diversion signs should be cleared, she added, saying there are lots of signs there at the moment but that she didn't see any indicating it was from August 1.
"We put up with a lot here [living in the city centre], and this is such a simple thing to do. It is just ridiculous," she continued.
"It is such a basic thing to be getting wrong. It does not surprise me from the council.
"I feel really frustrated."
A spokesman for Bristol City Council said: "The diversion across Bristol Bridge started on August 1 when we closed Redcliffe Bascule Bridge for refurbishment works. Anyone sticking to the official diversion route should not receive a fine.
"This means accessing Bristol Bridge from either Baldwin Street or Victoria Street, depending on the direction of travel. As High Street is not part of the diversion, drivers will still receive a fine if they travel over Bristol Bridge from this direction.
“Anyone who wants to appeal a penalty charge, can follow the instructions on the penalty charge notice.”
You can find out more about the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge works including the diversion here.
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