A roundabout in Carmarthenshire, known as Trostre Roundabout, has become a significant source of revenue for the local council. The council has collected over half a million pounds in fines from drivers who mistakenly used a bus lane on this roundabout. Despite clear signage indicating the bus lane, many drivers have still fallen foul of the rules, resulting in substantial fines. In the year between December 2022 and November 2023, £509,525 was paid in fines for this infraction.
Interestingly, the council’s income from this single lane on this roundabout exceeds what is typically collected from parking offences across the entire county in a year. This unique situation has earned the roundabout the nickname “the council’s magic roundabout.” Despite the public outcry and awareness raised by previous reports, drivers continue to be caught out, with over 6,700 fines issued in the first half of this year alone, totaling almost a quarter of a million pounds in fines.
The council has defended the fines, stating that drivers can appeal if they feel unjustly penalised. They emphasised the importance of bus lanes in maintaining traffic flow, especially in congested areas like Llanelli. The revenue generated from these fines is reinvested into public transport and road infrastructure improvements across the county. The council ensures that warning signs are prominently displayed, both before approaching the roundabout and on the roundabout itself, indicating the restricted access lanes.
Councillor Edward Thomas, responsible for transport, waste, and infrastructure at Carmarthenshire Council, reiterated the benefits of bus lanes for efficient and sustainable public transport. The council remains steadfast in their enforcement of bus lane rules to support smoother traffic flow and enhance public transport services. Despite the ongoing fines and efforts to educate drivers, the revenue generated from penalties on Trostre Roundabout continues to climb, now exceeding three-quarters of a million pounds since December 2022.