Ealing Council PCN / 21 - Parked in Suspended Bay / Southall Broadway (Uxb Rd A4020) @7:01pm

hi all,

I have been hit with a £160 PCN while trying to park on Southall Broadway, by a overeager CEO & his Phone Camera! 

Location: (outside shop)

Sitation:

I wanted to Park in a White-marked bay which was restriced 7am-7pm. It had struck 7pm so i found a suitable bay. I did then see yellow signs for "Parking Suspension" and proceeded to get out the car to check. I realised parking was Suspended on the day in question so immediately proceeded to get back in the car to move on. Turned on my engine and checked the rear etc - At this point like a Pouncing Tiger - a Cival Enforcement Officer coming from nowhere was seen snapping photos of my Car Reg from the pavement. As I was in the process of driving off in any case, I carried on driving as quickly as i could.

I feel this is predatory behaviour of Ealing Councils's CEO who literally pounced on my car snapping photos of me like a paparazzi and did not give any grace period or discretion, seeing that i had stopped to check the sign and was in the process of moving on after understanding the bay was temporarily suspended

Finally - the letter header (under "DO NOT IGNORE") is factually incorrect - the CEO had NOT "begun to prepare a PCN note for service", all they had done is take photos

Appreciate any help from the Forum Experts - see their Letter Attached (PDF)

Looks like you were in the car. The postal PCN gives no observation time and the pics were taken the minute before.

In these situations it's your testimony at the tribunal on events that must tip the balance to you in that the CEO was not preparing it for service.

thanks - yes i was in the car as advised, and in process of moving on, having checked the sign up close and suspension dates were in effect etc

Please advise what i do from here - write an appeal or what process to follow please? i wish to fight this and take it all the way

Update: Ealing Council cancelled the PCN on appeal

Thanks all for the advice

Very well done ! We don't see councils giving way very often.

Thank you! And all who supported

Yes I was very surprised that we didn’t need to go to Tribunal.

Their wording was something to the tune of “we are accepting your appeal this time but don’t think this will help you next time” …lol