Free Traffic Legal Advice

I received a notice to the owner from Newham.

See attached.

01 - Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours

Based on evidence (attached) I've parked on on yellow line on a bank holiday.

The second problem i have is that there was no PCN attached to my vehicle that day.

Here is my suggested response, any advice on this would be appreciated?

https://imgur.com/a/uXB2Xba

It is very unusual for parking restriction signs to exclude bank holidays. We see a lot of OPs who have parked on bank holidays and got a PCN. It may well be that Camden doesn't enforce on bank holidays, but that is a concession. Do the parking restriction signs in Camden say Except Bank Holidays ? Show us a GSV view of one that does.

A quick search reveals that Chestnut Avenue is within Forest Gate North CPZ.
https://lbnewham.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6c213298647e4283a537266c72c1d086
Restricted times are Mon-Sat 8.00am to 6.30pm

This means there will be no signs by individual single yellow lines, but signs at the entrances to the zone. The huge size of this zone means they really should place repeater signs around the zone, but don't have to put them by every single yellow line. However, a search using GSV fails to show entry signs, but GSV may not be sufficiently up-to-date. What route did you take to get to Chestnut Avenue.  If you can show you did not pass the CPZ entrance sign then there is no contravention.

Based your help I've drafted a new response.


Formal Representation Against PCN PN22476421
To: Parking Enforcement, Newham Council
Subject: Representation against PCN PN22476421
Vehicle Registration: EJ18 LJC

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to formally challenge the issuance of Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) PN22476421, issued on 11 June 2025, for an alleged contravention on 5 May 2025 on Chestnut Avenue.

After reviewing the location and the signage, I believe this PCN was issued incorrectly and should be cancelled, for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate CPZ Signage at Point of Entry
While Chestnut Avenue falls within the Forest Gate North CPZ, I have revisited the location and confirmed that there were no Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) signs at the entry point to the street where I drove in. The absence of a CPZ sign at the point of entry means the restriction was not legally conveyed, in accordance with The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

I attach photographic evidence showing the entry to Chestnut Avenue, with no CPZ signage visible on either side of the road.

2. No Time Plate or Local Signage by the Yellow Line
There is no sign adjacent to the single yellow line where I parked that provides restriction times. The only nearby signs refer to permit parking and disabled bays — none relate to the single yellow line restriction.

In the absence of both a valid CPZ entry sign and local time plate, the restriction was not properly communicated and the PCN is therefore invalid.

3. Bank Holiday – Reasonable Belief Parking Was Permitted
The date of the alleged contravention (5 May 2025) was a public Bank Holiday. Without clear signage stating that restrictions apply on Bank Holidays, and based on my experience in boroughs such as Camden (where enforcement is suspended on Bank Holidays unless otherwise signed), I reasonably believed that parking was permitted on this date.

4. PCN Was Not Present on Vehicle – Discount Should Apply
Although your records show that a PCN was physically served on the vehicle, I did not find a PCN on the car when I returned. It may have been removed or blown away before I got back to the vehicle.

As a result, I only became aware of the charge upon receiving the postal Notice to Owner. I was therefore denied the opportunity to respond or pay within the 14-day discounted period through no fault of my own.

Given this, the £160 charge is unfair. I request that the original discounted amount of £80 be honoured, in line with the principles of fairness and natural justice.

Attached Evidence
IMG_6325 / IMG_6324 – No CPZ signage at street entry

IMG_6334 / IMG_6333 – No signage near the yellow line

IMG_6331 / IMG_6332 – Permit and disabled bay signs only, unrelated to yellow line

Given the absence of required signage, both at the CPZ entry and near the location, and the reasonable context of a Bank Holiday, I respectfully request that this PCN be cancelled. In any event, the full £160 charge is disproportionate and should not apply in circumstances where no physical notice was received.

Please confirm receipt of this representation and pause enforcement while it is under consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Hi  H C Andersen

Thank you for reviewing my post.

I've taken what you've said on board and re traced my entry point into the FGN CPZ.

I've included a diagram and it's from centre road / Woodford Road - At point A.

I've also been back down that street and the CPZ sign is not visable from the road when driving as it's restricted by overgrown trees. With this new evidence and as per your early point can assume this strengthens my case for cancellation the PCN?

https://imgur.com/a/BYsgyUN



Not signs at every entrance to every road, but signs at the vehicle entrances into the zone itself. NOT VISABLE FROM ROAD

2. No Time Plate or Local Signage by the Yellow Line
No such plate is required if CPZ signs are placed as above.
As above due to signs not being visable this point should stand?


3. Bank Holiday – Reasonable Belief Parking Was Permitted
Sorry, but as explained unless marked to the contrary, restrictions apply for all indicated days and times.
ok


4. PCN Was Not Present on Vehicle – Discount Should Apply
There's no 'should apply', they may or may not. It's their choice and they normally exercise this in the motorist's favour.

As long as you have a realistic expectation of their response - and are doing this as much to get the discount re-offered and a possibly flawed NOR as tbinking that they'll cancel- then fine.