About this bus lane
Three separate camera sites on Oldham Road, all sharing the same operating hours and permitted vehicles, shown here as one page. Camera enforcement began at all three in December 2014.
Enforcement was suspended between 10 April 2025 and 8 July 2026, and has now resumed. Tameside Council confirmed on 9 September 2026 that it replaced the bus lane cameras at all seven of its sites during that gap, as part of changes to its parking enforcement arrangements, and that the replacements are installed and operational.
The traffic regulation orders stayed in force throughout, so the restriction itself never lapsed — and penalty charge notices are being issued here again. The council holds no record of a decision to suspend, and relied on regulation 12(4)(a) of the Environmental Information Regulations to say so.
Extent, operating hours, permitted vehicles and enforcement start date confirmed by Tameside Council under Environmental Information Regulations request 29527089 (response 24 July 2026); the council's public bus lane enforcement page names the road but publishes neither the hours nor the extent.
The council's response gives the operating times without stating which days of the week they apply on — check roadside signage for the days. The suspension and restart dates are from the council's response to Environmental Information Regulations request 30417683, answered on 9 September 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Hackney carriages
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Blue badge holders
Where exactly is it?
Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne — three enforced sections: the west side from a point 21 metres south of Atlas Street to the junction with Langham Street; the east side from a point 30 metres south of Vale Street to a point 50 metres north of Bishop Close; and the east side from a point 36 metres south of Cranbourne Road to a point 15 metres north of Cranbrook Street. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £30 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 Oldham Road bus lane?
The Oldham Road Bus Lane in Tameside operates 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Oldham Road bus lane?
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Oldham Road bus lane?
Buses, hackney carriages and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and blue badge holders.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Oldham Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Tameside Metropolitan Borough 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 lane during its operating times (7–10am, 4–7pm), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council accepted 13% of the 30 formal challenges it received in 2025/26 (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £30 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.