COUNTY council bosses were accused of putting up “confusing” and “ambiguous” road signs yesterday during a judicial review over the legality of Oxford’s bus gate.

Oxfordshire County Council has been told by the traffic Penalty Tribunal that it incorrectly fined motorists for driving through a section of High Street.

The tribunal, which deals with drivers’ appeals against tickets, said the county was wrong because it accused motorists of entering a bus lane when it was not actually a bus lane.

Yesterday, the dispute came before Birmingham Civil Justice Centre.

During the hearing Ian Rogers, representing the TPT, said the council had put up incorrect signs to indicate that people were driving in a bus lane.

The council had put up a red and white sign featuring a car and a motorbike banning them from driving through the bus gate between 7am and 6.30pm and issued fines to motorists contravening the ban.

However, Mr Rogers said: “It is the wrong sign for a bus lane.

“If it isn’t a bus lane, then it can’t be enforced as a civic penalty. It’s as simple as that.”

He said the council should have put up a blue sign with a white bus, following nationally recognised guidance to indicate bus lanes, and put markings on the road.

He added that adjudicators for the tribunal had ruled that “a contravention did not occur because the signs that had been used did not give adequate notice of the effect of the traffic order”.

The bus gate was introduced by the council to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre in April 2007. It collected £1.35m in fines between April 2007 and March 2009.

Seventy motorists have appealed against their fines.

Timothy Straker, representing the county council, argued drivers had received adequate warning that they were entering a prohibited area as four traffic signs could be seen en route to the bus gate.

He added that cobbles had been laid in the road and U-turn signs put up to give further warning to drivers.

However, Mr Rogers maintained the signs were “highly ambiguous”.

Justice Jack Beatson said he would make a decision on the legality of the bus gate at a later date.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk