'The council's 24/7 bus lane camera is killing my business', says angry Northampton town centre shop owner

A shop owner in Northampton town centre says a 24/7 bus lane is “killing his business” by ticketing his delivery drivers - with some owing a whopping £1,500.

The owner of Norman News, Vishal Patel, has criticised West Northamptonshire Council's (WNC) 24/7 bus lane camera in the Drapery over its ticketing process.

The camera has been in operation since February 2021 and permits buses, taxis, licensed hire drivers to drive in the Drapery at any time. Delivery drivers are also allowed to use the street but only between the hours of 6pm to 10am.

It is believed the camera fines any delivery driver for entering the bus lane, even during the permitted hours. Drivers then need to appeal the ticket with the council.

This issue has left five of Vishal’s suppliers threatening to stop deliveries.

The owner said: "The council is not helping at all to run business. They're making it difficult for us to survive. They think of themselves and how they are going to get the money.

"The delivery drivers aren't going to come. There's no solution at the moment. How do I run my business if nobody is delivering? It's affecting me. Shelves are empty. I think this could kill my business.

"This is making it more difficult to come into the town centre. There are four shops empty on the Drapery. Why? Because there is a problem here. The council don't want to help the businesses here in the town centre. Other shops are being affected."

Vishal has called for the council to either switch off the camera permanently, or just between the loading hours of 6pm to 10am.

He added: "I just want people to understand that this council aren't helping business owners."

Vishal's milk supplier, J N Dairies, currently has an outstanding debt of £1,500 with WNC after being ticketed 44 times.

The milk supplier said: "The hassle, the paperwork, the appeal process and everything... we will probably stop delivering to Norman News.”

WNC response

Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at WNC, said: “An exemption is in place between 6pm and 10am for traders on Drapery to organise loading and unloading, and this has existed since 2002, well before the bus lane enforcement was introduced.

“Our primary concern is avoiding congestion and delays for buses, so it’s vital that we have enforcement in the area to prevent drivers using Drapery as a cut-through, and we have advised the proprietor of Norman News on the best way his delivery drivers can avoid receiving penalty notices and how these can be challenged if they are applied.”

This newspaper previously reported that WNC made nearly £1 million from Drapery bus lane fines between between February 2021 and May 2022.