About this bus gate
The newest bus gate in Newcastle and the only one in the Great Park development. It runs between the junction with Great Parkway and the junction with Ashwood Close, and it operates at all times — there is no off-peak window when general traffic may drive through.
Buses and cycles are permitted, and police, fire and ambulance vehicles are exempt when on operational duty. The council set out that list when it consulted on the order rather than in a published list of exemptions for the finished scheme, so treat it as indicative and read the sign at the gate, which is the legal authority.
Camera enforcement began on 19 May 2025 and the camera issued 493 penalties in its first full year.
Transcribed from Newcastle City Council’s consultation on the proposed Sir Bobby Robson Way bus gate, and from the council’s response to Freedom of Information request 26698, dated 13 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Emergency vehicles on operational duty
This list may be incomplete. Newcastle City Council does not publish which vehicles are exempt here, so the above is only what its own material confirms. Other vehicles may also be permitted. The sign at the start of the bus gate names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Sir Bobby Robson Way, between Great Parkway and Ashwood Close, Newcastle Great Park. 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 Sir Bobby Robson Way bus gate?
The Sir Bobby Robson Way Bus Gate in Newcastle upon Tyne operates 24 hours a day, every day. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Sir Bobby Robson Way bus gate?
Newcastle City 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 Sir Bobby Robson Way bus gate?
Buses, pedal cycles and emergency vehicles on operational duty are permitted. Newcastle City Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus gate, so others may also be permitted — the sign at the start of it names the exemptions and is the legal authority. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, taxis and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Sir Bobby Robson Way bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Newcastle City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Newcastle City 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. It is worth doing: Newcastle City Council accepted 41% of the 5,232 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 24 that went on to the tribunal, 1 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.