A MAN fined twice on the same day for driving down a bus lane on two separate occasions has accused Reading Borough Council of having “no compassion” for the town’s visitors.

Alan Butcher travelled to the borough on Easter Monday from his home in Coggeshall, Essex, to visit his mother-in-law in Calcot who is currently undergoing radiotherapy for cancer.

But the 61-year-old cricket coach, who was unaware public transport enforcement took place on a bank holiday, was shocked to learn he had been fined £120 in total for driving his Honda Civic through the Vastern Road bus lane.

He said: “It was only by accident. I know it’s not an excuse and I fully understand that but what really upset me is the fact that it was Easter Monday — a bank holiday — and I just think it’s really unfair for them to have those rules apply on that day.

“The whole thing is just a money- making scheme — they’ve got no compassion for their visitors whatsoever.”

Mr Butcher took to social media after receiving the penalty charge notice on Monday and tweeted to Reading Borough Council’s Twitter page ‘obviously skint... operating bus lane fines on bank holidays... send ’em a quid each to help them out!’

Mr Butcher said: “I come to Reading to see my mother-in-law every now and again and because I’m not from the area we do have trouble with the signage because it’s not always clear.

“I’d hope that at my age I wasn’t falling into the ‘dithery old man’ phase early but according to Reading Council, I clearly must be.”

He added: “That road was almost deserted and when I got that letter through the post it really did dampen my day.”

A Reading Borough Council spokesman said Reading now has the fourth highest bus journeys per head of population outside of the Capital and the highest proportion of bus lanes per mile in the whole country.

He said: “In this case, the two tickets were issued as a result of a vehicle crossing into the bus lane on Vastern Road. Signs and lines warning of a bus lane on the outside lane are clearly visible as you leave the roundabout and before you enter under the bridge.

“Well in excess of 100,000 vehicles use Reading’s roads every day and latest figures show the number of penalties issued for driving in bus lanes has gone down year on year.

“Reading Borough Council welcomes this fall because it means more bus lanes are being kept clear.”

Mr Butcher has since paid the two £60 fines.