A PETITION calling for an independent review of camera-enforced bus lanes in Glasgow has been launched.

It urges Glasgow City Council to re-think its strategy which sees cameras fine drivers around the clock - even when there are no buses on the road.

There are 15 camera-fitted bus lanes in the city - 10 of which are switched on 24 hours a day.

We told you recently how the council raked in £2.5 million in bus lane penalty fines last year.

The local authority has agreed to stop fining drivers on Christmas and New Year's Day - when there are no bus services - after the Evening Times revealed that 370 fines were issued those days, generating at least £11,100 in penalties.

We also told this week how the council had been called on to turn off 24-hour cameras as there are no round-the-clock bus services.

And today, local people are being urged to back a petition which calls for the council to completely review their bus lane strategy.

Former bus driver and councillor Malcolm Balfour is behind the petition which has been launched online.

It reads: "The review should be carried out by independent traffic experts, not associated with Glasgow City Council or Strathclyde Partnership for Transport."

The petition calls for a review of signage and the "appropriateness of hours of operation" and also for a closer look at the dates on which the cameras are switched on, including when there are no buses on the road.

The petition asks for the review to "deter-mine on each lane where video cameras are used to improve the flow of traffic on congested stretches and the reliability of bus journeys and where they are simply used to raise revenue."

Councillor Balfour, who supports bus lanes at peak times, said: "Inappropriate camera enforcement of these lanes has resulted in a loss of trust in Glasgow City Council to fairly administer them."

The petition is available to sign at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/buslane

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Camera enforce-ment is an effective deterrent. Since its introduction, we have seen civil enforcement help lower the number of offences, improve the flow of traffic on congested stretches and improve the reliability of bus journeys."

linzi.watson@ eveningtimes.co.uk