About this bus gate
Bus gate on Ashdown Road / Hertford Road junction, Stevenage, enforced by an unattended ANPR camera under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (powers from 22 July 2023). Permitted: buses with more than 8 passenger seats, cycles, emergency vehicles and approved maintenance vehicles (no taxis/PHVs/cars).
Penalty £70, £35 if paid within 21 days, rising to £105 after 28 days. Permanent restriction (no operating hours stated).
Who can use it
- Buses and local buses
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Hackney carriages (taxis)
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Ashdown Road at the Hertford Road junction, Stevenage. 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 Ashdown Road bus gate?
The Ashdown Road Bus Gate in Stevenage operates at all times. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Ashdown Road bus gate?
Hertfordshire 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 Ashdown Road bus gate?
Buses and local buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Ashdown Road bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Hertfordshire County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Hertfordshire 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 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. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.