Some fines at the Portswood Road bus gate will be waived by the council.

It was announced on Wednesday morning that the controversial bus gate would be suspended from Thursday morning after a huge outcry from residents and businesses.

Southampton City Council has now confirmed that anyone who flouted the restrictions on Wednesday afternoon, after Cllr Eamonn Keogh announced in the council chamber the doomed project would come to an end and before the signage was removed on Thursday morning, would no longer face a fine.

READ MORE: Council U-turn on Portswood bus gate with fines set to stop

Cllr Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The road signage for the restriction was removed this morning (15/05/2025).

"As per the Highway Code, drivers should follow all legal road signage.

"However, we can confirm that any contraventions between the announcement that the restriction would come to an end and the removal of the road signage this morning will be waived.”

READ MORE: Cars return to road as Portswood Bus Gate is suspended

Throughout most of the trial, drivers were handed a warning notice after travelling through the bus gate for the first time, and then slapped with a fine of £70 each time afterwards, though this is reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

Conservative deputy leader on the council, Cllr Jeremy Moulton, praised the council's decision to waive fines.

He said: "I just wish they would be reasonable from the outset.

"The Labour Council have really messed up with their bus gate and they should just be reasonable without having to be embarrassed into doing the right thing."