About this bus gate
Sandwell: "New Street is a Bus Gate. No vehicles, other than those permitted are able to travel through the entirety of this location." In operation 24 hours a day to safeguard pedestrians using the town square.
Motorcycles are NOT exempt. Access to the disabled car park is from Cronehills Linkway, and drivers must turn left when leaving to avoid entering the bus gate.
Enforcement here began on 24 August 2016: the council first gave the year as 2026 in its response to freedom of information request FOI-858065885, then confirmed on 18 August 2026, in response to request FOI-866363316, that this was a typing error.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Hackney carriages
- Pedal cycles
- Emergency vehicles (in an emergency)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
New Street, West Bromwich town centre — approached from Cronehills Linkway and from St Michaels Street / High Street. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 14 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 Street bus gate?
The New Street Bus Gate (West Bromwich) in Sandwell 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 New Street bus gate?
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the New Street bus gate?
Buses, hackney carriages, pedal cycles and emergency vehicles (in an emergency) are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the New Street bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Sandwell Metropolitan Borough 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: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council accepted 70% of the 2,243 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 65 that went on to the tribunal, 18 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.