About this bus gate
Buses with nine or more passenger seats providing a public service, licensed hackney carriages and pedal cycles may pass through; private hire taxis are not exempt, and Blue Badge holders are not exempt from bus gate fines. The gate was introduced on 22 February 2022 as part of the Stockport Interchange scheme, with penalty charge notices issued from 4 April 2022.
Local access to the west end of Heaton Lane is maintained. The penalty charge rose to £70, halved to £35 if paid within 21 days, on 24 June 2026; it was £60 and £30 before that date.
Stockport Council enforces this bus gate with ANPR cameras, and it applies at all times — the Order sets no days or hours. Transcribed from The Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport (Heaton Lane, Stockport) (Bus Gate) and (Revocation) Order 2021, Article 2 and Schedule 1, sealed 16 September 2021 (seal number 806516) and in force from 17 September 2021.
Who can use it
- Buses (9+ passenger seats, public service)
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriages
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Heaton Lane westbound, from 12 metres west of the western kerbline of Astley Street for 5 metres, Stockport town centre. 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 Heaton Lane bus gate?
The Heaton Lane Bus Gate (westbound) in Stockport operates at any time of the day or night, throughout the week. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Heaton Lane bus gate?
Stockport 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 Heaton Lane bus gate?
Buses (9+ passenger seats, public service), pedal cycles and hackney carriages are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Heaton Lane bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Stockport Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Stockport 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.