Free Traffic Legal Advice

I received a PCN MD03548065 on Sat 16th May on Pudding Lane (outside Vinetta), Maidstone, under code 02.There was no signage indicating that I couldn't park there, and no kerb or road markings at all. I parked before the double yellow lines and before the Pedestrian Zone Ends sign. Pleasd could you help appeal.

See streeview/google maps link below which shows exactly where I was parked, on the right hand side of the road at the top:



Here are the doc links:





VRN: YJ63EFV

Ok thank you. I have just posted the links to the PCN pics. Do you need anything else? Many thanks.

If you parked on an unmarked length of road then the contravention did not occur, unless you of course were within a zone where such markings could be dispensed with e.g. pedestrian or restricted zone etc. This is all about entry signs and, as you referred to 'pedestrian zone ends' signs, then this suggests that Pedestrian Zone entry signs exist(not necessarily at the entry to Pudding but perhaps nearby). Can you get the council's photos or take your own.? Also pl provide your VRM and the PCN in full.

In which case IMO the contravention did not occur because that sign does not impose a stationary loading restriction, it imposes a 24/7 waiting restriction only plus a host of moving traffic ENTRY restrictions, one of which refers to the purpose of loading, but IMO this is not sufficient to convey a stationary loading restriction.

Wait for others and you could read s6 of this: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c78f895e5274a0ebfec719b/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-03.pdf

Traffis signs manual says:

Where there is also a prohibition of loading within the zone, this is not shown on the entry sign.

I presume it is on repeaters?

There are no repeaters in Pudding Lane I can see probably because it's just a short leg of the zone.

There are repeaters in the adjoining High Street, but they do not establish a loading restriction.

A properly signed pedestrian zone that has part-time loading as this one does should be signed as per below in the TSM.

I'd say the contravention did not occur. An 01 waiting contravention did but not an 02.



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Thank you all. So do we think that there has been a contravention and if so, what are the next steps? Should I appeal via the process on the reverse of the PCN and how should this be written?

No I am not familiar with the area at all and did not know that I had passed into a pedestrian zone. I was too busy trying to look for a car park - we had a vaccination appt at Boots (clinic) and no spaces were available in the car park opposite so carried on in the same direction and must have unwittingly entered the pedestrian zone. Having turned into a side street and seeing no double yellow lines, and  no obvious signs, and other cars were there (including a parked white van, parked directly in front of where I pulled in and parked my car), i assumed it was ok to park there.