Should the Designer Outlet bus lane be clearer?

Peter Welland's promise followed a similar complaint by Gareth Lewis, who was visiting the town from Wales, in August. Both men believe it should be clearer to motorists which section of the road is just for busses.

The Adver revealed last year the bus lane had generated £2.5 million for the Swindon Borough Council in five years, with thousands of people in the town and further afield inadvertently using it.

This has sparked a fierce debate about whether the motorists themselves should pay more attention, or if more can be done to warn them not to use it. 

Here’s what Adver readers had to say on Facebook...

Caroline Bell: “I’m forever seeing cars driving down the bus lane whilst at the bus stop it’s clearly marked buses only so clearly they think they are above the law and ignore the signs”

Tim Twyford: “Here we go again – it’s the three-monthly story about the out of towner who can’t see all the signs at this junction. Although this one says ‘look at the photos the road is quiet’... That’s because it’s a bus lane! At least he didn’t say it’s the satnav's fault.”

Vickie Lewis: “I saw someone driving down it when I was on my way to the circus last week and did think to myself 'oops – they’ll regret that'.”

Chris Z Burger: “I will go there and stop any car which want to drive through this road and say if you give me £5 I will tell you how to save £25. How many days do I need to be a millionaire doing this?”

Adrian Winters: “If only there was a sign saying no left turn at that junction, or a change of colour on the road surface.”

Rajat Divkar: “I didn’t even opened the penalty envelope thinking it was from a bank and had to pay double after two weeks because of this lane.”

Robin Stagg: “I have seen loads of people realise their mistake, then ask for directions to the car park.”

Liz Derbyshire: “To be honest, I don’t know why people cannot access the car park via this ‘bus lane’. More cars would use it, than buses and, therefore, customers!”

Mandy Evans: “I think they should open it up to everyone, then at least Bruce Street Bridges traffic would be less.”

Tracy Jenkins: “I pass this road regularly and the amount of people I wave at or beep at (depending on if I am walking or driving) to stop them driving down this road is unbelievable. They never listen, they just keep going! I tried.”

Garrington Robert John: “I just don’t understand how you can miss the fact that its a bus route only. Its a different colour road and has big letters saying 'bus lane'! Plus two big blue signs either side with a picture of a bus on each... Frightening really if there are drivers on the road who have this level of carelessness and inattention.”

James Newman: “I got the fine for the bus gate on Penzance Drive a couple of weeks ago. Pulling out of the Iceland distribution centre while lost, turned right, it was dark and there was a tiny sign with a picture of a bus and 'only' underneath it, along with a faded 'bus gate' written underneath it. 

“That’s not adequate signage when the signs weren’t illuminated at night and my headlights didn’t clearly pick up the bus gate. And to be honest, even if it did, I’d never heard of a bus gate in my life. And neither has the Highway Code.

“Needless to say this is currently with the tribunal!”

Sarah Smith: “I did exactly the same thing. Distracted by my kids – saw the car park on my left so turned off at the lights to get to it. Totally did not see the signs for bus lane until it was too late – oops. Anyway – fine paid and lesson learnt.”

Glen Farrell: “The Outlet is all the town's got left and people come from miles to shop there. If they are from out of town give them the benefit of the doubt.”

Chloe Wilson-Ash: “Me and my boyfriend went down there too, I think everyone has, if I’m honest, especially if you don’t know the roads.”