About this bus lane
The restriction applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gateshead Council confirms a camera has been enforcing this lane since August 2021.
Data from Gateshead Council's published bus lane enforcement list and its response to freedom of information request FOI 68296, 28 July 2026.
Who can use it
- Local buses
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
High West Street, Gateshead — northbound carriageway from a point 104 metres north of the junction with Warwick Street, running north to the junction with the A184 Regent Street, a distance of 59 metres. 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 High West Street bus lane?
The High West Street Bus Lane (northbound) in Gateshead operates 24 hours a day, 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 High West Street bus lane?
Gateshead 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 High West Street bus lane?
Local buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis, private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the High West Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Gateshead Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Gateshead 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. It is worth doing: Gateshead Council accepted 2% of the 4,443 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 52 that went on to the tribunal, 63 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.