About this bus lane
Two bus lanes on one street with different rules, so the exemptions change depending which you are in. The contraflow length in the south-west bound carriageway, from Gilman Place to a point 18 metres north-east of Charles Street, is BUSES ONLY — no pedal cycles.
The offside lane running 51 metres north-easterly from Lichfield Street admits buses and pedal cycles. Both apply at all times.
A further stretch of Old Hall Street, from a point south-west of Goodson Street to Tontine Street, is closed to motor vehicles entirely under a separate Hanley order. Stoke-on-Trent City Council's complete list of camera-enforced locations, given in FOI SOT-147931 (response 18 August 2026), does not include this lane, and no penalties are recorded here.
That is the council's own list rather than a guess, and it covers the city's camera car as well as its fixed cameras, so this is unlikely to be a site that is quietly patrolled. The restriction itself is still in force: the traffic order stands, the roadside sign is legally binding, and the council can add a camera or send the camera car at any time.
Transcribed from the City of Stoke-on-Trent (Traffic Regulation) (Bus Lanes) (No. 52) Consolidation Order 2010, First Schedule item 20(a)–(b), times of operation "At Anytime", permitted vehicles "Buses Only (a); Buses and Pedal Cycles (b)".
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
This list may be incomplete. Stoke-on-Trent City 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
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Old Hall Street, Hanley — the south-west bound carriageway between Gilman Place and Charles Street, and the offside lane running north-east from Lichfield Street. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN here?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's own list of camera-enforced sites does not include this one, so a camera PCN from this location would be unexpected — check the notice carefully and make sure it names the road you were actually on. If it does, it is still £70, reduced to £35 within 21 days, and our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win. The restriction itself is not optional: the traffic order is in force and the police keep their own power to act.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Old Hall Street bus lane?
The Old Hall Street Bus Lanes in Stoke-on-Trent operates 24 hours a day, every day. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Old Hall Street bus lane?
Stoke-on-Trent 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 Old Hall Street bus lane?
Buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Stoke-on-Trent City 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, lorries, motorcycles, taxis and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Old Hall Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Stoke-on-Trent City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Stoke-on-Trent 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. 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.