A SIGN warning drivers of a controversial bus gate in Glasgow city centre has been out of action for 16 months.

Part of the Stockwell Street notice, which advises drivers they are approaching the Glassford Street bus lane, was damaged over a year ago.

As a result, only a section remains with the words "bus gate" and little instruction.

Drivers filmed in the lane are fined £30.

Glasgow City Council say this sign is advisory, not statutory, and that other warnings and road markings point out the lane to drivers.

But one driver, who had his bus lane fine written off when he managed to prove that signage was inadequate, has hit out at Glasgow City Council's delays to put right the damage and said more people could appeal their fines as a result.

William Longair, 77, from Lanark, successfully appealed a £30 fine after his car was snared in the Glassford Street lane on October 21, 2014.

An adjudicator for the Scottish Parking Appeals Service ruled in his favour in December last year after Mr Longair proved that a number of signs on approach to the lane, including the Stockwell Street sign in question, had been defaced or vandalised.

But Mr Longair said: "As of today's date - two months after the adjudicators decision - Glasgow City Council has done little to remedy matters, although doubtless continuing to charge and fine motorists on a daily basis.

"Can this gross injustice be allowed to continue?"

The Scottish Parking Appeals Service (SPAS) adjudicator stated in his judgement: "I consider that the local authority had deemed it necessary to have the advisory sign on approach, otherwise they would not have installed them, and these have not been properly maintained.

"Therefore, I consider that they cannot enforce the bus lane contravention charge against the appellant, who clearly states that he was relying on the local authority signage to drive in Glasgow because he is unfamiliar with the location and the signage clearly did not advise him of the necessary measures to avoid the bus lane in this specific incident and on that specific day."

The council say the other signs have been cleaned and fixed and Stockwell Street sign is awaiting a replacement.

Evening Times understands the local authority has ordered a new sign but it has not been delivered yet.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "Anyone who thinks they have a legitimate appeal has the right to do so.

"However, each case is judged on its own merit by an adjudicator and does not necessarily set a precedence for others."

Bus lanes have been a massive source of cash for the council since they were first introduced with the lane on Nelson Mandela Place said to have netted £2 million in fines since 2014.

The Evening Times told you earlier this week that a review of the controversial lanes in the city has stalled because the council is locked in a stand off with bus operators.

The council want to scrap 24-hour lanes and change the enforcement times to 7am to 7pm.

There are no round-the-clock bus services in the city.

But the review - first promised two years ago - can not progress to a public consultation until an agreement is met with bus operators and SPT.

It is understood that First Bus are the only party who are not in agreement.

If a consensus can't be reached at a crunch meeting on Monday an adjudicator will be called in to mediate discussions.