About this bus lane
Taxis have a conditional exemption here that is easy to contravene: hackney carriages must access only via the dedicated marked taxi lane and must leave heading west towards Walliscote Road — no right turn and no U-turn from the taxi lane into the bus area. The council defines a bus for this scheme as a vehicle with 8 seats or more excluding the driver.
Who can use it
- Buses (a vehicle with 8 seats or more, not including the driver)
- Emergency vehicles
- Pre-authorised vehicles on the council exemption list
- Hackney carriages (taxis) — via the dedicated marked taxi lane only
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Locking Road westbound, entrance opposite the Red Admiral, Weston-super-Mare. 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 Locking Road bus lane?
The Locking Road Bus Lane (westbound) in Weston-super-Mare operates 24 hours a day, all days including bank holidays, unless signage states otherwise. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Locking Road bus lane?
North Somerset 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 Locking Road bus lane?
Buses (a vehicle with 8 seats or more, not including the driver), emergency vehicles, pre-authorised vehicles on the council exemption list and hackney carriages (taxis) — via the dedicated marked taxi lane only are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, motorcycles and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Locking Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to North Somerset Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If North Somerset 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.