2 x PCNs for entering a school street in Lambeth, Minet Road

I recently moved to a flat on an estate in Lambeth. I have a residents parking permit for the estate, and the car park is only accessible via a school street (Minet Road), which restricts entry between 8-9am and 3-4pm. So I have no way of accessing my home without driving down the school street.

I've just received 2 PCNs in quick succession, for entering the school street during restricted times. The sign states that the street is 'pedestrian and cycle only, except permit holders'. Obviously I assumed that my residents permit meant I was a 'permit holder'. I only discovered after receiving the PCNs that a separate 'school street exemption' is required. There's no way I would know this without looking online, and there is nothing on the sign that makes this clear.

It's especially frustrating because I am automatically eligible for the exemption, so all I did was fail to inform them that I am exempt. It's also ridiculous that my parking permit does not come with an exemption and that this has to be applied for separately, because the parking permit is useless without the exemption. To make matters worse, the PCNs arrived almost a month after the incident, meaning I went ahead and did it twice. Obviously if I had known, I would have just gone online and sorted it out.

I appealed immediately with evidence of my permit, still thinking that this was a mistake and that my permit allowed me access. They have now rejected my appeals on the basis that I was not exempt from the restriction.

I'm wondering whether the misleading signage, which led me to assume I had a relevant permit, means I can challenge this?

Here are photos of the PCNs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16OcT1bWD6LEBvaT8It4Q1ECJIjKHXnUK/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jO4D7e-K2JX19yGnpY2eBva5it-hMMoh/view?usp=sharing

And here's where it took place - I entered from both ends of the street:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/m16hSi3DqsnYtPX16
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aTATJyz6ZxiGadjG6

Thanks in advance!

What did you write and wait for the Notice of Rejection and screenshot payment status. Currently, they are dishing out premature charge certificates before the appeal is filed at the Tribunal.

I replied that I was exempt from the restriction and provided evidence of my residents parking permit. At the time I believed that this was the permit mentioned by the signage, I still maintain that this is very unclear.

I received the notice of rejection, it just says that I did not have a school street exemption, so they have decided not to cancel the PCN. I would just like to know whether it's worth appealing this, on the grounds that the signage is unclear.

Appeals are won on the permit confusion but turn on the facts.

Is there any code on your permit?

There is a code on the entry signs - LS27. Did this mean anything to you?

Let's see the rejection(s).

The code LS27 doesn't mean anything to me, there's no code on my permit, just the ID number. Will upload images of the rejection letter but it's very generic, just says that I didn't have a valid exemption (which is true), I just feel like the rules are not made at all clear and I'm being penalised for something I'm technically eligible for.

Here's the Notice of Rejection for both PCNs.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1J3JFxfT_WWOUzug2m2mp7Qj71ncbZBbN?usp=sharing

Would be grateful to know if I stand a chance of appealing on the grounds that the signage is confusing. I think it's totally logical to assume that the 'permit' mentioned on the sign means my residents parking permit, for a car park only accessible via this road. There was no way of knowing I needed a separate 'school street exemption' without looking online - and the sign doesn't even say it's a school street, so I would have needed to know this in order to look it up!

I am having trouble. What are the dates on the NOR?

NORs are both dated 03/08/2026

1st September is deadline. Unless you want to settle at discount, watch out for a charge certificate and I advise not filing until the last day provided you do not receive one. If you do, may as well file then.

The Lambeth website says I need to pay by 22nd August, and it says that they replied to my appeal on 31 July, but their NOR is dated 3 August. Screenshot here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QH70YuvrtW7ydSfql123LKbvkSM1GZeC/view?usp=sharing

PCN ******4829
Date of contravention - 15 June.
Date of issue of PCN - Thurs. 9 July
Deemed date of service - Mon. 13th

Elapsed period beginning on date of contravention - 29.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2003/3/section/6/enacted

1)Subject to the provisions of this section, no penalty charge notice may be served under this Act after the expiry of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the alleged contravention or failure to comply occurred.

Prima facie, the PCN is invalid. The legal burden is the council's to prove that any of the 'provisions of this section' apply(ies).

I wish them the best of luck!

I don't think you need to worry about this one. But wait for others to comment.

I recently moved to a flat on an estate in Lambeth. I have a residents parking permit for the estate

Sorry to pry, but:
Are you the tenant i.e. not sub-letting from a private individual;
Date you moved in; date you applied for res permit?
We don't know your address and so cannot test 'the car park is only accessible via a school street (Minet Road)'.
Who manages your estate and in any of their correspondence regarding your tenancy were you notified of the restricted access?

I want to start here.

IMO, the council is under an obligation to notify residents of the requirement to obtain a permit. Ordinarily, this would have been done when initial consultation on the scheme was carried out, but were you actually in residence then etc?

I own the flat - it's a leasehold from Lambeth Council. I received keys on 20 October 2025; residents estate parking permit has been valid since 22 Oct. The school street was introduced sometime before (I believe 2023?), so I imagine the need to obtain a school street exemption was communicated/consulted with residents then. I did not receive anything when I moved in.

Have you taken this up with the estate management?

Why have you only been nabbed for 2 PCNs, have you just been fortunate?

No, estate management is Lambeth Council, there’s nothing separate. I think I’ve just been lucky - the restrictions don’t apply if you are leaving the school street, only entering. I wouldn’t usually be driving in during those times, but happened to do so twice in a month.