About this bus gate
Unlike most of the Hanley restrictions, this one is not round the clock: it runs from 5am to 9pm, and the street is open to general traffic overnight. Buses, taxis, pedal cycles and council permit holders may pass at any time within those hours.
There is also a loading exemption — a vehicle delivering to or collecting from premises on or next to this length of Trinity Street may enter between 5am and 10am and between 5pm and 9pm. Private hire vehicles are not taxis for this purpose.
The gate produced 11,119 penalties over five years, per Stoke-on-Trent City Council FOI SOT-147931 (response 18 August 2026).
Transcribed from the City of Stoke-on-Trent (Traffic Regulation) (Hanley Bus Re-Routing) (No. 35) Order 2012, Article 13 and the Thirteenth Schedule.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis
- Pedal cycles
- Permit holders
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Trinity Street from its junction with Foundry Street to its junction with Stafford Street, Hanley. 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 Trinity Street bus gate?
The Trinity Street Bus Gate (Hanley) in Stoke-on-Trent operates 5am to 9pm, every day. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Trinity Street bus gate?
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 Trinity Street bus gate?
Buses, taxis, pedal cycles and permit holders are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Trinity Street bus gate?
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. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus gate during its operating times (Daily 5am–9pm), 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.