Free Traffic Legal Advice

Whilst dropping off my child for an exam during the Easter hols in April, I used the Davy House Car Park (which is covered). I paid for the correct number of hours.

Due to my car's size and the parking sensors are a bit too sensitive, I left a bit of space between the driver side and a very large concrete pillar on the driver side. I had adjusted the car's position several times but it was too risky to get it closer. The car park was virtually empty at the time I parked, however all the bays have a pillar on one side of the other. Nonetheless, Harrow council slapped me with a PCN for not parking within a marked bay (contravention 86), even though I was only just slightly over the line.

Here's the Google Street View link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pdvCS1f3RsRrfsS97 (there are no more pics of the inside of the car park I'm afraid).

I appealed the PCN (attached), on the basis that the bay has a large pillar on the driver's side (I reverse parked) and that this discriminates driver's of larger vehicles. Harrow Council rejected it within days; I attach their rejection letter.

I'm now at the 'Representations' stage, so the fine is now the full amount. I intend to make representations, but I am not entirely sure under what grounds. Can any of the experts advise? Thanks!

@rum well the only photo of signage is this one:



It doesn't prove the council's case, so don't mention it as you don't want to alert them to any deficiencies in their evidence.

Are you the registered keeper?

Also please show us a copy of your informal representation, in the meantime I'll get hold of the parking places oder.

@rum I'm not sure why you've posted a snipper of the NTO, we can't do anythign with snippets of documents.

Please post:

1) Your informal representations that you originally made against the PCN, and
2) All sides of all pages of the NTO, turned the right way round please.

Please see the guidance here on how to post images properly in your posts.

I hope you didn't mention anything about signage?

As the NTO (which appears compliant) was issued more than 14 days ago the discount won't be reoffered, so at this point you might as well take this all the way to the tribunal. In order to get there, I would suggest a very basic representation:



I would suggest you make this representation towards the end of the month to buy us a bit of time to get the car park order back, but please note that your deadline to make representations is midnight on 1 July and you must not miss this or else all is lost.

Representations should be made online, keep a screenshot of the confirmation page.

Yes unless instructed otherwise, it will be the same form on the council website as you used the last time round.

Just make sure to keep a screenshot of what you submit, and a screenshot of the confirmation page after you've submitted the representation.

OK, any harm in doing that now, or do you still need some more time?

I have now got hold of:

The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) Traffic Order 2017
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 1) Traffic Order 2018
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 2) Traffic Order 2019
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 3) Traffic Order 2019
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 4) Traffic Order 2020
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 6) Traffic Order 2020
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 6) Traffic Order 2022
The Harrow (Off Street Parking Places) (Amendment No. 7) Traffic Order 2023

From a quick skim there is a requirement to park within a marked bay, so the question is whether on the evidence this requirement was communicated. For now I would stick to the representation as drafted above and we can revisit the best approach when you get the notice of rejection.

If I select on street, it then asks if the notice was attached to the vehicle or received in the post. Should I choose this option and select attached to the vehicle?

Well yes, we know the notice was attached to the vehicle as we can see a copy in post 1 above.

What can I expect to come from the council now? Court summons?