Hi all,
First I’d like to mention that I only have one day to appeal this PCN due to my own forgetfulness! I will appreciate any thoughts or advice anyone has on my plan to appeal.
On 18th April (Good Friday Bank Holiday), at 16:45pm I parked on a single yellow line due to not finding parking space in a bay. I looked for any sign to indicate the times of operation but could not find any. I therefore assumed that the restrictions would be the same as the CPZ hours of operation which are Mon-Sat 8am-6.30pm. However, as this was a bank holiday and the rules are not enforced for parking bays I assumed this would be the same for this yellow line seeing as there was no specific sign with its time of operation. The pictures taken by the enforcement officer only show the vehicle parked on a single yellow and not of any signage specific to it.
I want to appeal on the ground that it was a Bank Holiday and the rules for the parking bays should extend to the single yellow line given there was no specific sign for it.
The road is Marlborough Road, Forest Gate, London E7 and can be seen on google maps here.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ySwfHyq8ovLXE93p9. I parked in the location behind the silver Vauxhall Zafira that can be seen on the right side of the road once clicking on the link. My wheels were not over the dropped kerb.
I used ChatGPT to create an appeal:
I am writing to formally appeal the issuance of Penalty Charge Notice number PN2232066A, issued for an alleged contravention on 18th April (Good Friday Bank Holiday) at 16:45pm on Marlborough Road, E7.
The alleged contravention relates to parking on a single yellow line (Contravention Code 01 – Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours). I would like to explain the circumstances and request that this PCN be cancelled on the following grounds:
On the date in question, I was unable to find an available space in a marked parking bay and parked on a single yellow line. I carefully checked the area for any signage indicating the specific times of restriction for that yellow line but found none. Given the absence of such a sign, I reasonably assumed that the restriction would follow the standard Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) hours, which for this street are Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 6:30pm.
As 18th April was Good Friday, a Bank Holiday, I also referred to guidance available on Newham Council’s website, which states that parking restrictions in bays are not enforced on Bank Holidays unless signs indicate otherwise. In this case, there were no signs for the single yellow line, nor any indication that different restrictions applied to it than to the bays within the same CPZ.
Additionally, I would also like to point out that the enforcement officer did not include any photographs of signage in the evidence for this PCN—likely because no such signage exists at or near the location. The photographic evidence provided only shows the vehicle parked on a single yellow line, which further confirms the absence of signage.
In the absence of signage to the contrary, and based on the Council’s own guidance, I believe it was reasonable to assume that the same Bank Holiday concession applied to the single yellow line. The lack of clear signage creates ambiguity, and I respectfully submit that enforcement should not have taken place under these circumstances.
I therefore request that this PCN be reviewed and cancelled.If anyone can think of anything else that I may add that would be helpful.
Many thanks
Mo
