Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello!
I parked in Kingston (London), specifically at The Triangle, to drop off a heavy parcel. It's a small road of around 8 bays. As you enter you see signs mentioning that the parking is free for one hour. As the first 6 bays were taken I parked in one of the last two bays.
I was surprised to see a PCN when I returned (I was gone for only 3 minutes). Apparently these last two bays are mix use parking bays (loading only and 1 hour free) depending on the time of day. The CEO was still there when I returned. The Goods Only vehicle loading is applicable up to 12pm, after which there is free parking. I had parked at 11:40am.

My points of contention are:
1) The sign is not parallel to the road. It is slightly offset, unhelpfully pointing away from the bay, and therefore was not visually impactful or obvious, particularly in light of the earlier signs for the other bays.
2) the top of the sign referring to goods only vehicles was partially obscured by the hanging flower pot right next to it
3) The CEO was still there, I made the above two points to him and also told him that a 'Loading Only' marking on the ground would be more useful and visually impactful. It was he who pointed out to me that the Loading Only markings are there, but virtually wiped out. He even suggested I should take a photo of it and use it in my appeal if I wish.

Do I have any grounds for appeal please, or is this a lost cause? In particular are the Loading Only markings on the road compulsory or not? I couldn't tell from the Traffic Signs Manual (see figure 13-52 on page 172): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c78f895e5274a0ebfec719b/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-03.pdf

Front and back of PCN: https://ibb.co/k2qJ39Gx and https://ibb.co/PGCwppSV
Picture 1 from CEO: https://ibb.co/s9pPVxpk
Picture 2 from CEO: https://ibb.co/FLgJtn1N
Google Satellite view showing my direction of travel and where I parked: https://ibb.co/WQfbyHq
Image showing the badly faded Loading Only  marking circled in red https://ibb.co/0Rw61LYn

Image showing the partially obscure top plate, this is the one not parallel to the bays: https://ibb.co/GfwLhvxs
Two signs like this visible immediately before the bay I parked in: https:/ibb.co/RGz0dSP2

Hi, GSV link here, the red pin is where I parked https://maps.app.goo.gl/h6aHxRun1QLs61ne8?g_st=ipc

Thanks,I will make an appeal
So to be clear
1) ‘Loading’ markings on the bay itself are optional? This would have hands down been more noticeable and grabbed my attention
2) signs are allowed to be offset, to some extent, to the road? For future reference this is good to know, although I’d say it’s indicative of poor maintenance by a council.
3) it’s acceptable to put a planter next to a sign and have it partially obscured? If I didn’t notice this sign in daylight, I’d hate to know how people could see it at night. To me it’s just common sense not to have a plant right next to a sign, shame there isn’t a regulation about this.

Sure, how does that work?

Sure, how does that work?

Ref: PCN  VRM

I challenge this PCN as follows:

The wording of the PCN in terms of the 28 days period is wrong since it does not comply with Schedule 2 para. 2 @  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/71/schedule/2

(d)that the penalty charge must be paid within the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the alleged contravention occurred,

In light of this procedural impropriety please cancel the PCN.

Quote from: IanO on September 13, 2025, 09:52:57 pm

Sure, how does that work?

Ref: PCN  VRM

I challenge this PCN as follows:

The wording of the PCN in terms of the 28 days period is wrong since it does not comply with Schedule 2 para. 2 @  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/71/schedule/2

(d)that the penalty charge must be paid within the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the alleged contravention occurred,

In light of this procedural impropriety please cancel the PCN.

Hello,
I received a NTO. Do I still stand a decent chance at tribunal with the above argument? I haven't been able to find any precedents yet.
Images of the NTO below (I'm on day 13 from the date of the NTO, was away for work for part of that).
The NTO does state that the penalty charge must be paid no later than the last day of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which "the NTO is served". How do I know when it was served? It's not necessarily the same date as the posting date.
https://ibb.co/N2Bh0P0S
https://ibb.co/fYSx2JKN
https://ibb.co/n8fVVcMx
https://ibb.co/jvY7FLKH
https://ibb.co/RTyP211C