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I had to drop some equipment and tools off at Rathbone Place at the weekend for a job. My van was in for maintenance work and I used my personal car that day. There was no access to the front entrance due to road closure on Rathbone street which is a one way street to the front entrance of building. I circled the area and could only find this loading bay which is written on the road (the sign is facing the other way stating use see image).
I took one of the heavy items and on my return a pcn was placed on the screen. I spoke to the officer and he even understood and said make an appeal if you’re not a regular offender you will be let off.
Due to the circumstances I thought I had a solid case so appealed with the following and the response from COW is attached. When doing the appeal it would only allow me to add one picture which I used the one of the vehicle with the sign and officer in view.

I'm writing to appeal the Penalty Charge Notice issued today, the 7th of March, at 11:32 AM. I arrived at 11:27 AM to unload necessary equipment for a resident at Rathbone Place. I was unable to access the main concierge entrance due to roadworks, specifically the resurfacing of Rathbone Street, which completely closed access. Furthermore, the signage was not clearly visible due to its orientation to my direction of travel, and I relied on the white line markings on the road indicating 'loading only'. Also, my 'work van' was being repaired. I have attached photographic evidence to support my situation. I would be grateful if you could consider these mitigating circumstances and cancel the PCN. Thank you.

Well, they've played hard ball, I'm afraid because you parked in a "Goods Vehicles Only" loading bay, at least that is what they say, so please post a GSV link to the location so we can see the sign for ourselves.

Did you provide any form of collateral to support your representations of van in for repair, and had to use private car for work purposes ? Things like this can soften their granite-like hearts sometimes.

Are you the registered keeper of the vehicle and are your DVLA details current? I ask because the next formal stage is for the registered keeper to be issued with a Notice to Owner, and if this isn't you e.g. it's leased etc, then this can introduce complexities.

Your reps were thin but we can look at this later if you decide to reject the council's offer.

Often companies lease vehicles, so you need to check this out. Your first post stated 'your personal vehicle' so I'm still unclear.

As regards the contravention, as I posted IMO your reps were thin as this is alluded to in the council's response.

Was the delivery undertaken on behalf of your employer by way of their business or were you operating in a personal capacity but merely using a vehicle loaned to you by your employer?

Thanks. I was exploring whether, despite the vehicle not being classed as a 'goods vehicle', it was nonetheless engaged in a commercial activity on behalf of your employer and but for the fact that they were unable to supply you with a goods vehicle but still expected you under your employment contract to carry out this work, the contravention would not have occurred.

IMO, this would have given you an argument for the authority to exercise discretion.

But it doesn't seem to apply.

IMO, if the vehicle is supplied as part of your work package and you are not the RK then this makes it more likely that it could be leased.

but I’d rather they not know I’m doing out of work jobs just incase it’s frowned upon

You've submitted reps which have been rejected. The next stage would be for the registered keeper (the company) to be served with a NTO demanding the full penalty.

So they would know about the contravention but not necessarily the underlying detail i.e. simply that the car was parked where not permitted, not why it was!

However, you cannot make reps against the NTO in your name, only those of your employer and therefore any subsequent rejection or acceptance would be a letter to your employer and if a rejection this would surely detail your arguments for your employer to read.

Wait for the views of others.

Doesn’t seem like their is much movement on this pcn :/

Quote from: D D on March 16, 2026, 07:33:29 am

Doesn’t seem like their is much movement on this pcn :/

'tincombe' has explained the situation. If you don't pay the PCN, your employer will get the Notice to Owner. If you don't want them to find out about your van being at the location where the PCN was served, then you have to pay the PCN. Simple.

I’ll suck this one up.
Thank to all who contributed to this one.