About this bus only street
The eastern end of Fishergate is a bus-only street at all times. Buses, pedal cycles and hackney carriage taxis may use it; ordinary cars, vans and lorries may not, at any hour.
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 section is separate from the Mount Street to Corporation Street stretch further west, which is restricted only between 11am and 6pm.
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.
Lancashire County Council enforces Fishergate with cameras at Butler Street, Cheapside and Corporation Street, the earliest live since 2016 and the most recent since 16 December 2019; it has not published which of them covers this particular section, so treat the whole street as watched. Transcribed from the Lancashire County Council (Preston City Centre, Preston City) (Revocation and Bus Lanes) Order 2019, Article 5 and Schedule 4, in force 28 January 2019.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriage taxis
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Fishergate between Glovers Court and Cannon Street, Preston. 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 Fishergate bus only street?
The Fishergate Bus Only Street (Glovers Court to Cannon Street) in Preston operates at any time. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Fishergate bus only street?
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 Fishergate bus only street?
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 Fishergate bus only street?
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 only street 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.