Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all

Kudos to all involved in providing this forum - it looks like a great help to people! I wish we had found it sooner, but hope you might still be able to help us in some way.

We are not from London (or the UK), so didn't do any digging / research before submitting our "formal representations". In considering whether to appeal our formal representations having been rejected, we came across this forum and thought we would reach out. We initially want to know whether we have indeed shot ourselves in the foot by challenging the PCNs we received, or if there is still scope to contest.

We have 5 PCNs for alleged contraventions in entering Ham Park Road via Devenay Road / Margery Road on 16 Dec 2025, 2 Jan 2026, 3 Jan 2026, 5 Jan 2026 and 12 Jan 2026. These total a hefty sum, so naturally wanted to explore our ability to contest them.

The link to a GDrive folder with the first PCN front page, text from our representations and rejection of the first PCN is here.

The text from our representations provides the context, but the summary of our predicament is:
- immediately after purchasing a car, we purchased a residents permit and thought we were then able to enter both ends of Ham Park Road and park as permit holders.
- after the first time driving through the access point (16 Dec 2025), we had "driver's remorse" so I called Newham Council to confirm. The representative said we needed a second "Access" permit to drive down Ham Park Road, and then we would be ok to enter Ham Park from both ends. So we made the purchase on 17 Dec 2025.
- On 7 Jan 2026, we received our first PCN and challenged it. Once we received the second one, we stopped entering Ham Park Road from either end.

I've only uploaded the correspondence for the first PCN, but can upload the others if there might be scope to contest.

The Google Street View location links for the signage at each end of Ham Park Road are:
- Devenay Road - here - apologies, it is quite hard to see the signage through the zoom. It appears the Google cars don't drive that far down Ham Park Road any longer.
- Margery Road - here.

If you have any questions or if further details/info would be helpful, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for your consideration and any assistance you can provide!

Please post one of the PCNs, plus your reps and their refusal. Much depends on whether you are prepared to stand your ground, and take them to London Tribunals, because if you take them there, the full PCN penalties will be in play. Th only other option is to cough-up, because you are only allowed a single representation to the council, for a postal PCN, and you have submitted one and it has been refised.

Looking at the GSV views, I see that the sign below the Flying Motorbike signs permits permit holders WHP01. So when you bought the "residents permit" shortly after moving in, it clearly was not a code WHP01. HOwever you then checked more: -

- after the first time driving through the access point (16 Dec 2025), we had "driver's remorse" so I called Newham Council to confirm. The representative said we needed a second "Access" permit to drive down Ham Park Road, and then we would be ok to enter Ham Park from both ends. So we made the purchase on 17 Dec 2025.
- On 7 Jan 2026, we received our first PCN and challenged it. Once we received the second one, we stopped entering Ham Park Road from either end.

So you bought the second permit on 17th December. Can you please list all the PCNs with contravention date and PCN date, please. As, (according to the council), you had the correct permit on 17th December, you should not have received any PCN with a contravention date that is after 17th December.

There seems to be something seriously wrong here. You say you bought the correct permit following advice from the council on 17th December. So from that date you should have been permitted to pass the restriction signs, yet you have received four PCNs for contravention dates well past the 17th December: -

- PCN Date: 9 January 2026, contravention 2 January 2026.
- PCN Date: 9 January 2026, contravention 3 January 2026.
- PCN Date: 12 January 2026, contravention 5 January 2026.
- PCN Date: 20 January 2026, contravention 12 January 2026.

Reading their letter of rejection to the first PCN, they mention that the special permit to pass the signs is only available to Blue Badge Holders. You haven't mentioned this before, so please tell us more.

The last PCN was for a contravention on 12th January. Are you still passing the signs, or have you now stopped. Reason to ask is that you say you bought the correct permit on 17th December, so no PCNs should have been served after that date. I assume these PCNs are all for passing the same restriction sign as for the first one.

I think you need to submit representations asking why four PCNs have been served in January for the same contravention as PCN1 served in mid-December, but after advice from the council you bought the correct permit permitting you to pass the signs on 17th December

OK, so you now need to submit representations based on what you have told us here, namely that you were misinformed by council staff on what permit to purchase. You were not made aware of the BB-only permit that is the only one permitted to pass the signs. Emphasise that you are newly arrived residents, so not at all familiar with the local permit arrangements, therefore relied totally on what the council told you.

These things are always difficult, as serious money is involved if you go to LT about 4 PCNs. Can you please post their respons to the other four PCNs, and your reps, as they may have shot themselves in the foot. These four PCNs are a totally disproportionate penalty bearing in mind you took steps to obtain the correct permit and were told incorrectly what to buy.

I think you might also get a result by contacting your local councillor as this is a maladministration issue.