About this bus gate
A bus gate in the middle of King Street, between its southern and north-eastern link roads, in Accrington town centre. Only buses may pass it, and the Order sets no operating hours, so it applies at all times.
Neither taxis nor pedal cycles are exempt here — a stricter rule than the Whalley Road bus lane a mile away, which permits both. Camera enforcement started on 16 December 2019 and the gate issues a steady 400 to 550 tickets a year.
Emergency vehicles on statutory duties, vehicles avoiding an accident, council vehicles that cannot use another road, vehicles clearing an obstruction, Royal Mail vans collecting or delivering letters next to the lane, and vehicles working on the street or its utilities are all separately exempt.
Lancashire County Council enforces its bus lanes with static ANPR cameras and charges £70, halved to £35 if paid within 21 days and rising to £105 once a charge certificate is served.
Transcribed from the Lancashire County Council (Various Roads, Burnley and Hyndburn Boroughs, and Lancaster City) (Revocation and Bus Lanes) Order 2021, Article 5 and Schedule 4, in force 13 September 2021.
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
King Street between the southern link road and the north-eastern link road, Accrington. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the King Street bus gate?
The King Street Bus Gate in Accrington operates at any time. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the King Street bus gate?
Lancashire County Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the King Street bus gate?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis, pedal cycles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the King Street bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Lancashire County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Lancashire County Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus gate operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.