About this bus lane
The most south-westerly lane of Church Street, between School Lane and Active Way, is reserved for buses on any day at any time. This is one of the county's strict bus-only lanes: pedal cycles and taxis are not exempt, unlike on nearby Padiham Road and Hammerton Street.
Camera enforcement started on 10 June 2021 and ticket numbers jumped sharply in 2025/26, from around 100 a year to 1,085 — worth knowing if you drive through Burnley town centre. 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 3 and Schedule 2 paragraph (a), in force 13 September 2021.
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Church Street, the most south-westerly lane, between School Lane and Active Way, Burnley. 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 Church Street bus lane?
The Church Street Bus Lane in Burnley 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 Church Street 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 Church Street bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis, pedal cycles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Church Street 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.