About this bus lane
The south-eastbound bus lane on the A680 Whalley Road, running from the Burnley Road roundabout down to Peel Street. Buses, pedal cycles and hackney carriage taxis may use it on any day at any time.
The Order defines a taxi as a vehicle licensed under Section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, which is a hackney carriage — private hire vehicles are not covered by that exemption. Lancashire County Council runs two cameras on this one lane, which it records as the Sparth House and Lynwood Avenue sites; both have been live since 9 April 2018.
In practice only the Sparth House camera issues tickets — around 1,770 a year — while Lynwood Avenue has issued none in five years. 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 4 and Schedule 3 paragraph (b), in force 13 September 2021, and from Lancashire County Council's August 2026 response to a freedom of information request for its camera-enforced bus lane locations.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriage taxis
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
A680 Whalley Road south-eastbound, between the Burnley Road roundabout and Peel Street, 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 A680 Whalley Road bus lane?
The A680 Whalley Road Bus Lane in Accrington operates any day at any time. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the A680 Whalley Road bus lane?
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 A680 Whalley Road bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles and hackney carriage taxis are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the A680 Whalley Road bus lane?
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 lane 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 signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.