About this bus lane
Not camera-enforced. North Northamptonshire Council confirmed in July 2026 that the 2012 order remains in force and the bus lane markings remain on the carriageway, but that the council does not currently enforce this lane; it could not comment on police enforcement.
The restriction itself still stands, so obey the roadside signs. The council's own camera enforcement in the area covers the Market Street bus gate only.
Because the council has confirmed the order is still in force, the hours and exempt vehicles it sets out are taken as current.
Transcribed from The Northamptonshire County Council (Sheep Street, Wellingborough) (Bus Lane) Order 2012, in operation 27 January 2012. Data from the council's response to freedom of information request 202601989, 27 July 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Police, fire and ambulance vehicles
- Vehicles removing an obstruction to traffic
- Road maintenance and street cleansing vehicles
- Gas, water, electricity and telegraph works vehicles
- Local authority and water company vehicles on statutory duties
- Vehicles accessing premises on or adjacent to the road
- Network Rail incident response vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
The south-west side of Sheep Street, Wellingborough, between a point 10 metres north-west of its junction with Tithe Barn Road and a point 69 metres north-west of that junction. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN here?
North Northamptonshire 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 Sheep Street bus lane?
The Sheep Street Bus Lane in Wellingborough operates 7am to 7pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Sheep Street bus lane?
North Northamptonshire 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 Sheep Street bus lane?
Buses, police, fire and ambulance vehicles, vehicles removing an obstruction to traffic, road maintenance and street cleansing vehicles, gas, water, electricity and telegraph works vehicles, local authority and water company vehicles on statutory duties, vehicles accessing premises on or adjacent to the road and Network Rail incident response vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Sheep Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to North Northamptonshire Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If North Northamptonshire 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 (7am–7pm), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: North Northamptonshire Council accepted 11% of the 3,641 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 8 that went on to the tribunal, 0 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.