THE number of bus lane fines issued increased by nearly 7,000 last year after Brighton and Hove City Council installed five new cameras in the Valley Gardens area.

The increase is attributed to the controversial cameras in the council’s annual parking report for 2020-21.

The bus lanes – also known as bus gates – only became operational in early 2021 while the traffic volumes were lower because of a coronavirus-related lockdown.

The number of bus lane penalty charges went up from 53,822 in 2019-20 to 60,004 in 2020-21.

The figures for the current financial year – 2021-22 – are likely to be higher.

In October 2021 alone, the council issued more than 9,000 fines to drivers entering the bus lanes created by the Valley Gardens scheme.

A similar number of fines were issued in August, councillors were recently told.

A report to the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee said that in the 2020-21 financial year the council collected nearly £4.3 million in fines for misused lanes and illegal parking.

The income from parking fines fell from almost £6 million in 2019-20 as the number of penalty charges issued fell from 124,248 to 101,244.

On-street parking charges also dropped by more than £4 million last year.

The report also said that the surplus – or profit – from off-street parking fell by £225,000 to £2,350,000 because of covid-19. The revenues came mainly from The Lanes, Trafalgar Street, London Road and Regency Square car parks

Even with a government grant of more than £5 million, parking-related income was down by more than £2 million compared with 2019-20.

The surplus after direct costs was £15.1 million, down from £16.5 million the previous year.

The law restricts the council to using surpluses for providing public passenger transport services, highway or road maintenance, safety and improvement projects, environmental improvements or similar related spending.

The Argus: The Argus recently revealed that dozens of people have been fined by new cameras catching drivers who park in cycle lanes across the cityThe Argus recently revealed that dozens of people have been fined by new cameras catching drivers who park in cycle lanes across the city

Last year £10.5 million from the surplus helped fund concessionary fares for elderly and disabled bus pass holders, with £1.5 million for supported bus services and public transport, £1.8 million for capital projects and £1.2 million for other eligible spending.

During the lockdown, the council extended older people’s bus passes to 24 hours to allow safe journeys, reducing the risk of the virus spreading.

The annual report said: “Older people were able to use their bus passes to travel early in the morning when many supermarkets were offering special time slots for the most vulnerable due to food shortages.

“The older person’s bus pass times have been changed back to the hours between 9am and 4am, so that fewer vulnerable people will be travelling on the same buses as children and teenagers now that pupils have returned to school.

“The aim is to protect older people who are at higher risk from coronavirus.”

Taxi vouchers worth £70 a year are offered to residents who cannot use their bus pass due to disability, with 658 people taking up the option.

The council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 4pm today. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.