This section of Tithebarn Street outside the shopping centre would become a bus lane Pic: Richard Swan

Another bus lane is going to be installed in Preston city centre.

Lancashire County Council are preparing to spend more than £400,000 putting in a stretch of bus-only road near Preston Bus Station.

Fishergate’s shared space saw the introduction of an 11am-6pm bus lane in late October which has notched up thousands of pounds for the county council in bus lane fines.

The southern stretch of Tithebarn Street, along the western side of the Bus Station, will be restricted to buses, taxis and cyclists.

Subways are being removed between the Bus Station and St John’s Shopping Centre as part of the £23million revamp of the building.

Read more: This city centre road is being used as Fishergate rat-run

A report to the cabinet member for transport, county councillor John Fillis, outlines what the county council’s highways department wants to do.

It states: “It is proposed that buses will exit the bus station at the northern end of Tithebarn Street at a new egress junction.

“Buses heading towads the north and west of Preston will then head along Tithebarn Street, turn right along Old Vicarage eventually heading north on Lancaster Road.

“The southern stretch of Tithebarn Street, beyond the junction with Old Vicarage, would be restricted to buses, taxis, cyclists and authorised service vehicles only.

“Along with introducing a right turn only on Earl Street at Lancaster Road this allows the effective removal of traffic in the area between St John’s shopping centre and the Markets, which enhances the pedestrian routes to the city from the Bus Station and principal car park. The current through traffic on Tithebarn Street will be rerouted to the east of the bus station along Carlisle Street.”

What the new traffic rules would mean

Bringing in the new road layout would also close off a current ‘rat run’ through Cheapside and ‘improve the area around the Markets’, according to the county council.

Funding for the scheme would come from the Department for Transport grant of £700,000 which the county council received during 2016-17 and has not been allocated.

Read more: College student has Fishergate fine waived

County councillor Fillis has approved the scheme and if no councillors call it in then it will be approved on New Year’s Eve.

There’s no date known for when the county council will start the work.

They recently received planning permission for the multi-million pound Preston Youth Zone which is to be built by the side of the Bus Station.

What do you think of the proposal for the new bus lane? Let us know in the comments below