About this bus lane
Both directions of Hammerton Street between St James's Street and Hargreaves Street are bus lanes on any day at any time. Buses, pedal cycles and hackney carriage taxis may use either direction; heading north, vehicles the council has authorised in writing may use it too.
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. This is by some distance Burnley's busiest bus lane camera.
Enforcement began on 7 November 2022 and the site issued 24,198 tickets in 2023/24 and 15,354 the year after, before dropping to 2,077 in 2025/26 as drivers learned it. 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 (Bethesda Street, Brick Street, Hammerton Street, Paradise Street and St James's Street, Burnley, Burnley Borough) (Revocation, One Way Traffic and Bus Lanes) Order 2022, Articles 4 and 5, in force 16 May 2022.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriage taxis
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Hammerton Street between St James’s Street and Hargreaves Street, 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 Hammerton Street bus lane?
The Hammerton 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 Hammerton 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 Hammerton Street 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 Hammerton 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.