About this bus gate
One-way bus gate (southbound) on the Channels development access road at Broomfield, north Chelmsford. Only buses may pass in the permitted direction; all other motor traffic prohibited at any time.
Verified against the Essex CC (Channels Bus Gate, Broomfield) (One-Way Bus Gate) Order 2022 (in operation 22 Apr 2022). Emergency vehicles exempt.
Essex County Council has since confirmed that camera enforcement here ceased in December 2023 and that the camera was relocated to Pier Avenue in Clacton-on-Sea. The bus gate and its traffic order remain in force, the council still lists this as one of its enforcement sites, and the police keep their own power to act — so treat the restriction as live even though the council's own penalty figures show almost nothing issued here since 2023.
Transcribed from Essex County Council's response to freedom of information request ECC20774622 07 26, 19 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
Where exactly is it?
Channels Drive / Channels bus gate, Broomfield, Chelmsford — southbound from Belfry Crescent to Brassie Wood. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 14 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 Channels Drive bus gate?
The Channels Drive Bus Gate in Chelmsford operates at all times (24 hours, 7 days a week). There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Channels Drive bus gate?
Essex County Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Channels Drive bus gate?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and taxis.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Channels Drive bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Essex County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Essex 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.