Fines warning at new £30,000 Rayleigh station bus gate

Essex County Council has revealed plans for new restrictions at the Rayleigh rail station interchange, preventing use by cars, licensed hackney carriages, powered two-wheelers and cyclists.

The move forms part of a drive to boost public transport use, reduce congestion and the tackle the environmental impact of single-use cars.

One of the areas which would see the motorists banned from entry and exit points is at Rayleigh rail station, which would be enforced by cameras.

Currently the ban on a left-turn entry to Rayleigh Station supported by signage indicating “No Entry Except for Buses” has been in place since 1981 but which can only be enforced by a police officer.

Over a three-day monitoring period there were on average 204 contraventions, the authority said.

The bus gate proposal would reduce any resource burden on Essex Police, while ensuring this area is not obstructed by other vehicles, therefore creating more efficient bus services to and from Rayleigh Station, the council adds.

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Additionally any car parking next to the taxi office in the restricted bus area, which is already banned, would be liable for a PCN fine.

In a report to councillors, county council officers say: “Rayleigh station bus interchange has been identified as a site that requires camera enforcement.”

Within the forecourt there is a taxi rank that can be accessed without going through the restrictions.

Essex County Council has already installed 12 bus gates across the county – including at Duke Street in Chelmsford, Laindon Link in Basildon and Long Riding in Basildon.

Around 20,500 tickets were issued for contraventions at the Duke Street bus gate alone in 2019.

This went down to 15,500 in 2020, even with the effects of Covid. Between January 2021 and July 2021, 11,500 fines were issued against people driving through the bus gate.