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Mill Road bus gate - exemption application

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Penalty charge period begins

From Tuesday 11 March 2025 drivers of non-exempt vehicles may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. The warning notice period has now ended. A Penalty Charge Notice is £70.00, discounted to £35.00 if paid within 21 days.

Background information

On Friday 4 October 2024, members of the Highway and Transport committee voted to approve the modal filter on the Mill Road bridge. The closure will be implemented as a bus gate and will be enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. If you drive illegally through the bus gate, then you will receive a £70 fine. Signs are installed along Mill Road and on nearby streets to warn drivers about the new road layout.

The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) came into operation on 1 December 2024. 

For further information please visit Mill Road bridge TRO.

Permitted authorised vehicles - Mill Road bus gate

The Mill Road bridge is now closed to all vehicles, except for the categories outlined below. The Traffic Regulation Order defines the following vehicles as permitted to use the Mill Road bus gates.

You will still be required to complete an application using the below link (Apply for a Mill Road bus gate exemption), providing the relevant supporting evidence with your application.

These vehicles are limited to:

  • Pedestrians and cyclists (not motorcycles or mopeds)
  • Local buses - constructed or adapted to carry more than eight passengers
  • Statutory undertakers
  • Taxis (both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles)
  • Blue badge holders may register up to two vehicles (their own vehicle or a vehicle belonging to a carer) for exemption
  • Vehicles in a disabled tax class
  • Vehicles on the Council’s Permitted Vehicles List

The following additional exemption categories have been agreed for vehicles to be added onto the Council's permitted authorised vehicle list, if an applicant meets one of the below categories:

To apply for an exemption, you must complete an application using the below link (Apply for a Mill Road bus gate exemption), providing the relevant supporting evidence with your application.

  • Eligible NHS staff
  • Eligible Doctors
  • Disabled residents who are not Blue Badge holders
  • Resident’s carers
  • Professional carers
  • Volunteer transport
  • Community Transport including Dial-A-Ride

Operational guidance

Operational guidance Mill Rd bus gate479KB–pdf
Size: 479KBFile format: pdf

How to apply

To apply for a digital Mill Road bus gate exemption, please click the link below to register for or access the MiPermit portal.

The MiPermit portal allows you to apply, purchase and manage your parking permits.

Once logged in please select the applicable exemption type under Mill Road Bus Gate Exemptions.

Apply for a Mill Road digital bus gate exemption using MiPermit

Defined scheme area

The railway line forms the boundaries of the wards of Romsey on the east side and Petersfield on the west side. In December 2024 Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC), installed a bus gate restriction over the bridge, limiting traffic to pedestrians, cycles, buses, taxis, and other authorised vehicles.

As part of the Mill Road bridge bus gate scheme, CCC has determined to create a geographic area in which carers are eligible for permitted vehicle rights over Mill Road bridge. This is so that they are not unduly disadvantaged whilst maintaining the efficacy of the traffic control measure. The issuance of authorised access to highways users, who lack valid reasons to cross the bridge would diminish the efficacy of the proposed traffic control measure.

To be eligible for permitted vehicle rights both carer and dependent need to live within the Defined Scheme Area (DSA). Successful applicants will need to provide their vehicle registration details which will be added to the Permitted Vehicle List for the Mill Road bus gate. The exemption issued will be the resident’s carer and voluntary transport exemption; this will only be issued if the applicant meets all the criteria in set out in the operational guidance.

Defined Scheme Area285KB–pdf
Size: 285KBFile format: pdf

Please note Blue Badge holders or any vehicles registered for access by a Blue Badge holder, along with ALL the additional exemption categories are NOT permitted to use any other bus gates or bus lanes in Cambridge. You may receive a penalty charge notice if you drive through them.

For further information about the bus gates and lanes in Cambridge visit Bus lane and bus gate enforcement

Frequently asked questions

Please refer to permitted vehicles section at the top of the web page. This outlines the vehicles permitted in the TRO and the additional exemption categories.

It will take seven working days for your application to be reviewed (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays). You will be contacted by the Parking Control team with an update if your application has been successful. You must wait until you receive written confirmation that the vehicle(s) have been approved before driving through the bus gate.

Please see the How to apply section above. Details of supporting documentation required is outlined on the application form.

No, Blue Badge holders or any vehicles registered for access by a Blue Badge holder, along with ALL the additional exemption categories are NOT permitted to use any other bus gates or bus lanes in Cambridge. You may receive a penalty charge notice if you drive through them.

If you are a disabled person or resident’s carer living in the Mill Road area of Cambridge, you may be eligible to apply for exemption from the restrictions over the bridge.

If you drive through the bus gate during the warning period, you are encouraged to apply for an exemption outlined above if you meet the criteria.

If you drive through the bus gate after the warning notice period has ended and receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), the registered keeper of the vehicle should follow the instructions provided on the PCN on how to make a representation.

If your vehicle is not already registered on the permitted vehicle list, please register via Bus lane and bus gate enforcement.

Vehicles who are not exempt are not permitted to travel over the Mill Road bus gate in a motorised vehicle. You would therefore need to find an alternative route by car or choose to walk or cycle if able to do so.

You would no longer be able to travel over the Mill Road bus gate in a motorised vehicle except by bus and taxi or if you apply for an exemption as detailed above. You would therefore need to find an alternative route by car or choose to walk or cycle if you are able to do so.

If you have any problems using the online form, please ask a family member or friend to assist you with your application.

If you need access to free Wi-Fi, a computer, or a scanner to upload documents, you may visit your nearest local library: Cambridge Central, Arbury Court, Barnwell Road, Cherry Hinton, Milton Road and Rock Road. Please note that library staff are unable to provide assistance or support with MiPermit. You will need to contact the MiPermit helpdesk on 0345 520 7007 for assistance with your application or to help you purchase permits. Once registered, you can purchase and manage your permits over the telephone by contacting the MiPermit helpdesk on 0345 520 7007, Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. The lines are open 10am-4pm on bank holidays. Lines are closed on Christmas Day.

If you have any problems using the online form, please ask a family member or friend to assist you with your application. Once registered you will be able to telephone MiPermit on 0345 520 7007 to purchase and manage your parking permits. The MiPermit helpdesk is available Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. The lines are open 10am-4pm on bank holidays. Lines are closed on Christmas Day.

As a Mill Road Bus Gate Exemption is vehicle specific, you will need to amend the vehicle details on your parking permit. To change the vehicle details on your permit please log on to your MiPermit account and select the appropriate Vehicle Change Permit option. Alternatively, you may contact MiPermit on 0345 520 7007 or email MiPermit help@mipermit.com for assistance.

A £10 administration fee is applicable. You will also need to upload a copy of the Certificate of Insurance for the new vehicle.

For assistance using the MiPermit system, please contact the MiPermit helpdesk on 0345 520 7007.

The help desk is open: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. The lines are open 10am to 4pm on bank holidays. Lines are closed on Christmas Day.

You can also email MiPermit at help@mipermit.com.