About this bus gate
This bus gate runs Monday to Friday during the restricted periods — the sealed Order says Monday to Friday, not term-time only, so do not assume it is lifted during school holidays. Buses, cyclists and Southampton-licensed taxis and private hire vehicles may pass through.
A taxi or private hire vehicle licensed by another council may only do so on weekdays between 7am and 9:30am and between 4pm and 6:30pm, and only if the vehicle is new enough to meet the council’s emission standards. Separately, the council issues permits to residents and businesses on the street, to Blue Badge holders, to carers and medical staff visiting an address on the street, and to school transport and school staff; a permit only allows access to a property on the street, never use as a through-route, and only during the restricted hours.
Residents of 73, 120, 122 and 124 Violet Road may also apply for written approval to reach their own property, entering and leaving by the shortest restricted route. The restriction runs between Copperfield Road and Primrose Road.
The council has since confirmed that this gate is camera-enforced. It had appeared in no penalty table in the council’s earlier freedom of information response; the council has now said its traffic order differs from the other school streets, that camera enforcement began in February 2022, and that the camera has issued 9,385 penalty charge notices in five years — 1,565 in 2021/22, 2,579 in 2022/23, 1,185 in 2023/24, 938 in 2024/25 and 3,118 in 2025/26.
The same restriction was first made by the City of Southampton (Violet Road) (Bus Gate) Order 2022, in operation 12 November 2022, which gives identical hours and vehicle classes. The camera confirmation, start date and penalty counts are transcribed from Southampton City Council's freedom of information follow-up response of 20 August 2026, under reference SCC-107517.
Transcribed from the City of Southampton (Honeysuckle) (Part A) Order 2023 (in operation 13 November 2023), whose Schedule 2 adds both roads to Schedule 20 of the City of Southampton (Moving Traffic Restrictions) Order 2022 with a Restricted Hours entry of "Monday – Friday: 8am – 9.30am and 2:15pm – 3:45pm" and exceptions of Buses, Pedal Cycles and Authorised Vehicles; Schedule B of that 2022 Order defines an Authorised Vehicle as a Southampton-licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, an out-of-area taxi or private hire vehicle only on weekdays between 7am and 9:30am and 4pm and 6:30pm and only if it meets the stated emission-standard registration dates, or an approved home-to-school vehicle adapted to carry disabled passengers; the permit classes are added by Schedule 1 of the Part A Order into Schedule A of the 2022 Order (tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Southampton/Moving-traffic-restrictions-2022.pdf).
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Taxis (hackney carriages)
- Private hire vehicles
- Residents and businesses on the street with a council permit
- Blue Badge holders with a permit, for access to a property on the street
- Carers, district nurses and medical staff attending an address on the street
- School service vehicles and authorised school staff with a permit
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Violet Road (Cantell School) — camera-enforced school-street bus gate (Violet Road Bus Gate Order 2022). 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 Violet Road bus gate?
The Violet Road Bus Gate in Southampton operates Monday to Friday, 8am to 9:30am and 2:15pm to 3:45pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Violet Road bus gate?
Southampton 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 Violet Road bus gate?
Buses, pedal cycles, taxis (hackney carriages), private hire vehicles, residents and businesses on the street with a council permit, Blue Badge holders with a permit, for access to a property on the street, carers, district nurses and medical staff attending an address on the street and school service vehicles and authorised school staff with a permit are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Violet Road bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Southampton City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Southampton 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. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus gate during its operating times (Mon–Fri 8–9:30am & 2:15–3:45pm), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.