Bristol City Council: PCNs and how to challenge them

What Bristol enforces

Parking

Enforces

Bus lanes / gates

Enforces — all bus lanes CCTV monitored; bus gates 24 hours a day

Moving traffic

Enforces since 2023-07 — powers granted July 2023; ANPR at named sites

Appeals

Traffic Penalty Tribunal (free)

About Bristol PCNs

Bristol PCN numbers start with BS or OB followed by eight digits. The council gives a 50% discount if you pay within 14 days of the date of service for a ticket issued by an officer, or within 21 days for a PCN received by post. Appeals must be in writing, one PCN per form, online or by post, and Bristol says that while it works through appeals the PCN is put on hold with the amount frozen; it warns that replies may currently take longer than 28 days.

All of Bristol's bus gates operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are marked with 'bus gate' on the road, some with a red surface. Who may use each one varies: the council's table shows that most allow taxis and motorcycles, but Romney Avenue, Stoke Lane, Broad Quay and Colston Avenue do not, and only two (Baldwin Street at High Street and Victoria Street at Bristol Bridge) allow HGVs. The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood bus gates on Avonvale Road and Pile Marsh also admit solo motorcycles, taxis and certain residents and carers who hold an approved exemption.

Bristol was given moving traffic powers in July 2023 and publishes a notice for each new site. It says a first-time offence at a new location gets a warning notice for the first 6 months. Hockeys Lane, Lower Redland Road, Furber Road, Bath Bridge Roundabout and two Withywood junctions are past that period; Ducie Road and The Avenue started on 17 July 2026. The Clean Air Zone is a separate scheme (see roadfinecheck.co.uk).

How to challenge a Bristol PCN

1. Check the deadline. A camera PCN sent by post gets a 50% discount if paid within 21 days; representations are normally due within 28 days of the notice being served.
2. Make representations to the council using its online challenge form or by post to Parking Services (PCN Appeals), PO Box 3399, Bristol City Council, Bristol BS1 9NE. Quote the PCN number and the grounds that apply.
3. If rejected, appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator is independent of Bristol.

Known camera locations

• Anton Bantock Way / Queens Road banned turnBanned turn · code 50
• Avonvale Road bus gate (Marsh Lane to Hanover Street)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Baldwin Street / Broad Quay bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Baldwin Street / High Street bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Baldwin Street / Marsh Street bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Bath Bridge Roundabout, Temple Gate compulsory directionMoving traffic restriction · code 32
• Bath Road / Park and Ride bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Bath Road / Wells Road bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Broad Quay bus gate (bus lane 1A)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Broadmead / Union Street bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Colston Avenue bus gate (bus lane 2C)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Colston Street bus gate (bus lane 3)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Cumberland Road bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Ducie Road, Lawrence Hill motor vehicle banMoving traffic restriction · code 52 · since 2026-07-17
• Furber Road, St George no entryNo entry · code 51
• Hareclive Road / Anton Bantock Way banned turnBanned turn · code 50
• High Street / Bristol Bridge bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Hockeys Lane, Fishponds banned turnBanned turn · code 50
• Lower Redland Road, Redland no entryNo entry · code 51
• Pile Marsh bus gate (Avonvale Road to Netham Road)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Romney Avenue bus gate (Inbound)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Romney Avenue bus gate (Outbound)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Stoke Lane Metrobus bus gate (bus lane 1, Inbound)Bus gate · code 33 · At any time
• The Avenue, St George motor vehicle banMoving traffic restriction · code 52 · since 2026-07-17
• Union Street / The Haymarket bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time
• Victoria Street / Bristol Bridge bus gateBus gate · code 33 · At any time

Codes used at these cameras: 50 (performing a prohibited turn), 33 (using a route restricted to certain vehicles), 32 (failing to proceed in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign), 52 (failing to comply with a prohibition on certain types of vehicle), 51 (failing to comply with a no entry restriction).

Questions