Thanks for the guidance so far.
I’ve emailed Europcar - no response yet. I decided to submit an informal challenge to test the council’s position and preserve the discount. Below this message is a copy of my draft appeal. I would really appreciate any comments on the wording or approach before I submit it.
My argument is that although I now understand the restriction, the relevant yellow line sign was rotated away from the carriageway and not visible from where I parked. It was only after receiving the PCN and returning in daylight that I found it. I believe that fails the requirement for adequate signage.
Any suggestions on tightening this up or strengthening the signage argument would be very welcome.
Also, if liability is transferred from Europcar to me and it progresses to London Tribunals, does this read like something an adjudicator would properly consider, or am I missing a stronger technical angle?
I’ve also uploaded a short video to show what this stretch of road is actually like in practice. It demonstrates how vehicles tend to approach at around 30mph, how narrow the carriageway becomes near the pedestrian refuge island, and the lack of proper footway alongside the single yellow line.
It was raining heavily on the night I parked, and the verge was wet and muddy. I didn’t feel it was safe to start walking along the edge of the carriageway looking for additional signage, particularly with traffic moving at speed and no proper pavement where I was parked. The video hopefully gives a clearer sense of the conditions and why the misaligned sign was not apparent from where I parked the vehicle.
Any thoughts on whether this strengthens the signage argument would be appreciated. (had to split the video into 2 files to upload them)
https://cdn.imgpile.com/p/vmjizJG#hdOZmOfhttps://cdn.imgpile.com/p/vmjizJG#cF51eywAPPEAL TEXT:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to formally appeal the above Penalty Charge Notice [number], which was issued on Sunday morning at 8:49 AM for parking on a single yellow line.
I wish to challenge PCN on the basis that the restriction was not adequately signed in accordance with the council’s duty to provide clear and lawful signage.
I hold a valid resident permit for this area and have lived locally for approximately nine years. During this time, I have always made every effort to comply with parking restrictions and have never knowingly parked in contravention of them.
On the evening prior to the PCN being issued, I returned home after dark and, as is frequently the case in this area, there were no available resident parking bays. I therefore parked on the single yellow line.
Before leaving the vehicle, I checked the only sign visible from my position beside the vehicle. That sign indicated a Monday–Saturday restriction and gives no indication that parking was prohibited at the time I parked.
As single yellow line restrictions commonly mirror the operational hours shown on nearby parking plates, I reasonably understood that parking on the Sunday morning would be unrestricted.
The sign that apparently applies to the single yellow line was not visible from where I parked. It is rotated away from the carriageway and from the length of single yellow line to which it relates. It was only after receiving the PCN, and returning in daylight to investigate, that I located this sign turned away from the road it applies to. It would not reasonably be seen by a motorist approaching or parking on that side of the road, particularly at night.
This is a relatively busy road with narrow running lanes and a central pedestrian refuge on either side of the location which constrains traffic flow. Vehicles regularly travel at 30mph. There is no proper pavement at the precise location where the sign is positioned, and on the night I parked there the verge was wet and muddy due to recent heavy rain. It would not be reasonable or safe to expect a motorist to walk into or alongside live traffic in order to search for signage that should have been clearly visible from the point of parking.
The authority has a duty to ensure that signage is clearly visible and correctly oriented toward the carriageway and the restriction it regulates.
I have taken photographs and video which demonstrate that:
* the nearest visible sign indicates restrictions Monday to Saturday only;
* no signage facing the direction of travel or parking location clearly indicates Sunday restrictions; and
* the relevant sign appears orientated away from approaching drivers, making it difficult to see from the carriageway.
Under Regulation 18 of the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996, the authority has a duty to ensure that traffic signs are placed so that adequate information is made available to road users regarding the effect of a Traffic Regulation Order.
In addition, the Traffic Signs Manual (Chapter 3) published by the Department for Transport states that signs must be positioned so that drivers can easily see and understand the restriction before or at the time of parking. Restrictions must be clearly conveyed and not rely on drivers locating signage that is obscured, poorly orientated, or not visible from the relevant parking position.
In this case, the combination of:
* the clearly visible nearby sign indicating Monday–Saturday restrictions,
* the absence of visible signage facing the location where the vehicle was parked,
* the orientation of the relevant sign away from approaching drivers, and
* the risk posed by the road’s speed and traffic density
led me to reasonably believe that parking on Sunday morning was permitted.
Given that the relevant sign was misaligned and not facing the carriageway or the regulated length of yellow line, I submit that the restriction was not adequately conveyed and the PCN should be cancelled.
I am a long-standing resident and permit holder who made a genuine effort to comply with the restrictions. The signage arrangement at this location is misleading and does not clearly communicate the applicable restriction to motorists parking on that section of road, particularly at night and on a busy road.
I respectfully request that the council review the attached photographs and cancel this PCN on the basis that the restriction was not adequately or clearly signed and that reasonable safety considerations prevent drivers from having to inspect signage in person.
Please let me know if any further information is required.
If the council does not accept this challenge, I request:
• CEO notes
• Confirmation of the signage inspection and maintenance records for this location
I look forward to your response.
