Author Topic: Help needed - incorrect contravention code and observation times on PCN  (Read 1203 times)

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Thank you @Incandescent

I will certainly raise this when making a representation.

Do you think there is any mileage with the PCN incorrectly stating an 'on street' contravention when it was a 'off street car park' contravention?
There probably is, but I'm not so much up-to-speed on this aspect, but there will be somebody who knows, so hopefully they'll post soon.

Here are the council photos:













The location is here https://maps.app.goo.gl/K4FbT4XcSCnyjU6d9 and if they try suggesting it's a road, we can go for the argument that it is not a way as it doesn't go anywhere, so it cannot be a road within the meaning of section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (this is not an argument you can use in a DIY appeal, we recently saw someone try to argue this themselves recently and they failed spectacularly).

@onlyhuman I would have liked to get the relevant order up-front (which is why we like to see unredacted details when a post is first created) but there simply isn't time for that, as your deadline to make representations is midnight on Tuesday. I will however request the order now so hopefully we'll get it before you have to file an appeal with the tribunal.

Here's a draft:

Dear London Borough of Newham,

The alleged contravention did not occur, for the simple reason that my car was not parked on Church Street at all. Rather, my car was parked in an off-street car park, as illustrated by the CEO's own photos which put the matter beyond doubt. While I appreciate I should consider myself fortunate that the CEO selected the wrong contravention code, the fact of that matter is that when an incorrect contravention is selected by the CEO the fact that some other contravention might have occurred is irrelevant, and the penalty charge must be cancelled.

However I would like to put on the record the fact that I was not abusing the parking conditions, I am a blue badge holder and I attach a copy of my blue badge for your records. It is unfortunate that my blue badge slipped from the dashboard and I understand why the CEO would have issued the penalty charge notice, but the fact of the matter remains that the allegation on the penalty charge notice is simply not made out.

As the contravention did not occur you must cancel the PCN and you have no discretion about this. The only real question is whether you want to do so now voluntarily, or whether you want to pay the £25 tribunal fee in order for the adjudicator to compel you.

Yours faithfully,



Edit: scrap that, I have found an on-street order, I will have to review this later this evening.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2024, 07:43:46 pm by cp8759 »
I practice law in the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, London Tribunals, the First-tier tribunal for Scotland, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for Northern Ireland, but I am not a solicitor or a barrister. Notwithstanding this, I voluntarily apply the cab rank rule. I am a member of the Society of Professional McKenzie Friends, my membership number is FM193 and I abide by the SPMF service standards.

Quote from: 'Gumph' date='Thu, 19 Jan 2023 - 10:23'
cp8759 is, indeed, a Wizard of the First Order

Right, the traffic order is The Newham (Disabled Persons) (Community Parking) (Special Parking Area) (No. 1) Order 2007 and the following entry appears at item 6 of Schedule 5, on page 15:

CHURCH STREET E15, that area of the car park fronting Nos.2 to 12 Church Street, at its north-western extremity which lies between the northern wall of the car park and a point 7.2 metres south of that wall and which has a width throughout of 5 metres (so as to accommodate two vehicles).

Revised draft:

Dear London Borough of Newham,

The alleged contravention did not occur, because my car was not parked on Church Street at all. My car was parked in an off-street car park, as illustrated by the CEO's own photos which put the matter beyond doubt. While I appreciate I should consider myself fortunate that the CEO selected the wrong contravention code, the fact of that matter is that when an incorrect contravention is selected by the CEO the fact that some other contravention might have occurred is irrelevant, and the penalty charge must be cancelled.

I note that The Newham (Disabled Persons) (Community Parking) (Special Parking Area) (No. 1) Order 2007 purports to create a parking bay at this location, however the  order is made under sections section 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which only relate to on-street parking places. The powers to provide off-street parking places arise under section 32 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and an on-street order cannot create parking places on land that is not a road: an on-street traffic management order cannot apply to an off-street car park any more that it could apply to the driveway of a private residence, a privately owned underground car park, or the roof of a building.

In simple terms, because the car was parked in a car park and the penalty charge notice alleges the vehicle was parked on Church Street, the contravention did not occur because regardless of any other matter, my car was not parked on Church Street.

However I would like to put on the record the fact that I was not abusing the parking conditions, I am a blue badge holder and I attach a copy of my blue badge for your records. It is unfortunate that my blue badge slipped from the dashboard and I understand why the CEO would have issued the penalty charge notice, but the fact of the matter remains that the allegation on the penalty charge notice is simply not made out.

As the contravention did not occur you must cancel the PCN and you have no discretion about this. The only real question is whether you want to do so now voluntarily, or whether you want to pay the £25 tribunal fee in order for the adjudicator to compel you.

Yours faithfully,


Send this online via https://parking.newham.gov.uk/ and make sure to keep a copy, and a dated / timestamped screenshot of the confirmation page. It's best to grab a screenshot showing the confirmation page and another browser window showing the website https://time.is/ so that no suggestion can be made that you manipulated the time and date.
I practice law in the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, London Tribunals, the First-tier tribunal for Scotland, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for Northern Ireland, but I am not a solicitor or a barrister. Notwithstanding this, I voluntarily apply the cab rank rule. I am a member of the Society of Professional McKenzie Friends, my membership number is FM193 and I abide by the SPMF service standards.

Quote from: 'Gumph' date='Thu, 19 Jan 2023 - 10:23'
cp8759 is, indeed, a Wizard of the First Order

Dear @cp8759 and all

Than you so much for your help with this case and the excellent draft representation which I sent to newham council. A true wizard of the highest order!

I have received the following notice of rejection from newham council. I have attached pictures of their notice of rejection.

Interesting points to note:

1) They say 'on street parking refers to the practice of parking vehicles on the side of a public road or street, The location where you parked is not located away from public roads or streets.'

@cp8759 what are your thoughts on this - it does not really make sense to me.

2) They have offered the discounted price of £65 again if I pay now. I did not think would happen at this stage.

I have been given a code to make appeal against their decision to london tribunals.

I would be very grateful if you could let me know how you feel this case is going? Do you think I should just pay up the discounted rate or stick it out and appeal to london tribunals?

Many thanks for your help.

Notice of rejection:
https://ibb.co/2FCHqKb
https://ibb.co/HgtXM6p
https://ibb.co/4WD1VvT
« Last Edit: July 07, 2024, 07:30:48 pm by onlyhuman »

Personally I'm include to suggest appealing to the tribunal, because the council's answer doesn't really make any sense. Either you're parked on a road or you're not, there is no contravention that can occur when parking "close to" a road.

There is also an unlawful fettering of discretion, the council is entitled to accept a blue badge at any stage and they have wrongly concluded they cannot do so, which is wrong in law.

On the whole I think there are good chances of success on appeal, though of course the outcome is never 100% guaranteed.

I'll drop you a PM in case you'd like to be represented.
I practice law in the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, London Tribunals, the First-tier tribunal for Scotland, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for Northern Ireland, but I am not a solicitor or a barrister. Notwithstanding this, I voluntarily apply the cab rank rule. I am a member of the Society of Professional McKenzie Friends, my membership number is FM193 and I abide by the SPMF service standards.

Quote from: 'Gumph' date='Thu, 19 Jan 2023 - 10:23'
cp8759 is, indeed, a Wizard of the First Order