Motorists are able to drive down the stretch of Fishergate previously enforced by a bus lane camera.

Lancashire County Council has temporarily suspended the bus lane running from Mount Street down to Corporation Street.

The move comes after last week’s fire at the former St Joseph’s Orphanage site in Mount Street.

Read more: Part of Grade-II listed St Joseph’s Orphanage to be demolished after fire

Due to the damage sustained there is demolition work taking place and Mount Street has been closed to traffic.

Regulation and enforcement manager for the county council, Peter Bell, said: “The Fishergate bus gate camera was switched off following a fire at a derelict building on Mount Street in Preston to avoid people being fined if they were diverted onto the bus-only section of road.

“Mount Street remains closed so drivers are able to travel through the Fishergate bus gate as it will remain offline. Signs are being put in place to inform drivers and the bus gate signs are being covered to avoid confusion.”

The bus lane signs have been scrubbed out in Fishergate.

It is not known how long the temporary switch-off will be in place due to the road closure in Mount Street, but Preston City Council confirmed to Blog Preston it is ‘likely to be for a few weeks’ for Mount Street remaining closed to traffic due to the current state of the former orphanage site.

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