About this bus lane
A bus and cycle lane on the south-west bound (city-bound) carriageway of New Hall Lane, running from just short of Fishwick Road down to Witton Street. Buses and pedal cycles only, on any day at any time.
Taxis have no exemption here. This is Preston's newest camera-enforced bus lane: the Order came into force on 12 May 2025 and Lancashire County Council started issuing tickets on 2 February 2026, from two cameras it records at Mercer Street and Adelaide Street.
In its first months the Mercer Street camera issued 194 tickets and the Adelaide Street camera none. 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 (New Hall Lane, Preston, Preston City) (Bus and Cycle Lane) Order 2025, Article 2 and Schedule, in force 12 May 2025, and from Lancashire County Council's August 2026 response to a freedom of information request for its camera-enforced bus lane locations.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
New Hall Lane south-west bound, between Fishwick Road and Witton 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 New Hall Lane bus lane?
The New Hall Lane Bus and Cycle 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 New Hall Lane 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 New Hall Lane bus lane?
Buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, taxis and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the New Hall Lane 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.