About this bus lane
The whole north-east bound carriageway of Fishergate Hill, from Strand Road up to Butler Street, is a bus lane on any day at any time. Only buses and pedal cycles may use it — taxis are not exempt on this stretch.
The camera here, which the council records as the County Hall site, has been enforcing since 28 January 2019, the day the Order came into force. It is a comparatively quiet camera: Lancashire issued 88 tickets here in 2025/26 against thousands on Fishergate itself.
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.
Transcribed from the Lancashire County Council (Preston City Centre, Preston City) (Revocation and Bus Lanes) Order 2019, Article 6 and Schedule 5, in force 28 January 2019.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Fishergate Hill north-east bound, between Strand Road (A5072) and Butler 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 Hill bus lane?
The Fishergate Hill Bus Lane in Preston operates any day 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 Hill bus lane?
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 Hill bus lane?
Buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Fishergate Hill bus lane?
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 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.