About this bus lane
Gloucestershire County Council Bus Lane Order 2021, sealed Bus Lane Plan. Contra-flow (southbound).
Hours and permitted vehicles copied from the plan legend. ANPR camera enforced (bus lane PCN prefix GD); penalty £70, £35 if paid within 21 days.
Who can use it
- Buses and local buses
- Hackney carriages (taxis)
- Pedal cycles
- Private hire vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Portland Street (contra-flow, southbound), Cheltenham. 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 Portland Street bus lane?
The Portland Street Bus Lane in Cheltenham operates at any time (24 hours). There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Portland Street bus lane?
Gloucestershire 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 Portland Street bus lane?
Buses and local buses, hackney carriages (taxis), pedal cycles and private hire vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Portland Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Gloucestershire County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Gloucestershire 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.