It's the end of the road for fan bus clampdown

Murray salutes Record as Traffic Commissioner abandons restrictions

- ANDREW QUINN

FOOTBALL fans and politicians have welcomed the scrapping of "draconian" plans to restrict football supporters' buses.

The Traffic Commissioner announced yesterday afternoon that it had scrapped proposed restrictions on sports fans travelling to events in Scotland.

The UK Government had published the "Guidelines for taking passengers to sporting events in Scotland", which include curbs on where buses can park, would restrict pub stops and ban picking up fans from unauthorised locations without police permission.

This would have brought the Scottish guidelines in line with those in England and Wales.

The plans were blasted by Scottish football bosses, fans and politicians, with First Minister Humza Yousaf calling them "ludicrous".

After a nationwide outcry, the Traffic Commissioner has announced the consultation will be scrapped.

The Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain said in a statement: "As the Senior Traffic Commissioner for Britain, I think it is important to stress that the traffic commissioners are safety regulators and we are independent of government.