About this bus gate
The council confirms the £29m Station Road / Winton Square scheme provides priority access for buses through a bus gate here, so driving through it is a contravention and the roadside signs govern. Cameras are arriving: Stoke-on-Trent City Council said on 14 September 2026 that camera enforcement on Station Road starts this month.
Until then it was not on the council's list of camera-enforced locations, and the council says the road was not a bus lane at all in 2021. The council has never published hours or a list of permitted vehicles for this gate, so the vehicles shown are only the minimum it states — taxis or cycles may also be allowed, so check the sign.
The penalty is £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days, as the council confirmed in the same reply.
Transcribed from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's regeneration announcement and its responses to freedom of information requests SOT-147931 (18 August 2026) and SOT-148780 (14 September 2026).
Who can use it
- Buses
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 gate names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Winton Square, on Station Road outside Stoke-on-Trent railway station. 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 Winton Square bus gate?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's published record gives the operating times of the Winton Square Bus Gate (Station Road) in Stoke-on-Trent as “Not stated — check roadside signage” rather than a single time range, so the sign at the start of the lane is the definitive source.
How much is the fine for driving through the Winton Square 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 Winton Square bus gate?
Buses are permitted. Stoke-on-Trent City Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus gate, 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 Winton Square 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. Stoke-on-Trent City Council does not publish this bus gate's operating times centrally, which makes signage the decisive issue: the restriction has to be signed clearly enough to be understood on approach, and inadequate approach signage is a recognised ground of appeal. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.