About this bus lane
This bus lane is watched by a camera. It is on the Perton estate in South Staffordshire, west of Wolverhampton, and the council began issuing penalties here in April 2022 — 447 in the first year, falling to 54 in 2024.
It is the quietest of Staffordshire’s five camera sites. The council says the restriction operates 24 hours a day, but it could not locate the traffic order for this site when asked for it, so unlike the county’s other four cameras there is no order here setting out which vehicles may use the lane.
The council’s general answer was that private hire and emergency vehicles are exempt at all of its sites, but the orders it did supply contradict that at two of them, so it should not be relied on here: check the signs on the approach, which is where any exemption and any time restriction will be shown.
Note also that some earlier public accounts place a “Gainsborough Drive” camera in Burton upon Trent; the council’s own list puts it in Perton. Staffordshire County Council’s bus lane pages still state a £60 penalty reduced to £30 within 14 days, but its own penalty records show £70 charged on every notice from 2023 onward, reduced to £35 for early payment; £60/£30 applied up to 2022.
The council has confirmed the current charge is £70, halved to £35, but would not say what date the increase took effect, so check the amount printed on the notice itself. Penalties are processed for Staffordshire by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, so a Staffordshire bus lane PCN is paid and challenged through Stoke’s parking service and the notice number begins “GE”.
The council stated that it holds no traffic regulation order for the Gainsborough Drive site.
Transcribed from Staffordshire County Council’s response to freedom of information request F0038517, answered on 4 September 2026, which supplied the traffic regulation orders for the county’s camera-enforced sites, and from its earlier response F0037975, 21 August 2026, which lists those sites with the month enforcement began at each.
Who can use it
- Buses
This list may be incomplete. Staffordshire County Council does not publish which vehicles are exempt here, so the above is only what its own material confirms. Other vehicles may also be permitted. The sign at the start of the bus lane names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Gainsborough Drive, Perton, near Wolverhampton. 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 Gainsborough Drive bus lane?
The Gainsborough Drive Bus Lane, Perton in Staffordshire operates all day (24 hours). There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Gainsborough Drive bus lane?
Staffordshire County 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 Gainsborough Drive bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Staffordshire County Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus lane, so others may also be permitted — the sign at the start of it names the exemptions and is the legal authority. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Gainsborough Drive bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Staffordshire County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Staffordshire 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.