Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I was hoping to get some help on a PCN I was issued in Newham on Sunday 11/08/2024. The issue is as below. I would appreciate if you could advise / help on this matter.

Pics of issued PCN:

https://imgur.com/a/ZdLEEsf

Pics of my Ford Fiesta Black car parked at Litchfield avenue (sorry no PCN is on my car):

https://imgur.com/a/FPQv4WJ

Location pics of Litchfield Avenue (I parked in front of where the blue car is parked on this picture beside 'Waverley Lodge' on roadside):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aydsVCqLwiHi31aW6

Contravention: Contravention code 12, parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place where required.
Location: Litchfield Avenue, Stratford (Besides Solar House), Off Romford road London
Date: 11/08/2024, Sunday

On Sunday, I came at Litchfield avenue to park my car at around 11 am and saw a car space (Pics given). The parking space is for a pay parking (Monday to Saturday), so I thought I can park free on Sunday. Therefore, I didn't hesitate to park. When I came back at around 1:40 pm, I saw a penalty notice on my car. I was shocked and surprised.

Based on the above, I would request you to kindly cancel this PCN.

Many thanks!
 

West Ham played at home the day before and I can't see an event day at London Stadium for 11 August but that doesn't mean there wasn't something else in the area.

Spotting the entry signs on main roads in these often large zones and having no idea how to check if it's an event day when you reach a bay is unreasonable as we've often said. The parking signs don't even tell you what borough you're in.

Eg this zone I think has signs some way back on Romford Road:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TDNaoafpsaweMdUA7

The CEO took a pic of this sign along with a few pics of your car:

According to newham webiste this was the event that took place on the 11th

https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/1313/uk-black-pride-returns-to-newham-s-queen-elizabeth-olympic-park-for-the-third-year-running-on-11-august-2024#:~:text=11%20August%202024-,UK%20Black%20Pride%20returns%20to%20Newham's%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20Olympic%20Park,running%20on%2011%20August%202024&text=The%20world's%20largest%20celebration%20for,on%20Sunday%2C%2011%20August%202024

What will happen with the PCN then if there was an event and general public were not aware?

The PCN will be enforced, because the council will claim they posted the event date on the signs at the entry points to the parking zone. You have to prove they didn't do this.

You will have to do some homework and legwork. Find out the extent of the zone area, and look for the entry sign on your route to the parking location where you got the PCN. You need to also submit representations stating that you saw no dates for the event on your journey. If they come back and say "it's all on our website", then they are on the way to losing at the adjudicators, because they have then failed their legal obligations to place signs for the restriction date.

Thank you for asking. Actually, I started from Dod street to A12 then Bow round about through high street (A118) to Broadway and passed IBIS hotel London Stratford then briefly to Romford road then take left to Deanery road to Litchfield ave.

I am going to put a representation by stating that I didn't see any dates for the event on my journey route.

Did you mean whatever I send, I take a snap shot and post it here first then there?

This is one of Newham's ridiculous zones - the entry sign for zone S on that route is way back on the High Street and back in 2019 there was just one sign on this busy road. There were building works after this which may have altered the sign position.

It seems another person who is a resident got a PCN on 11 August too but we've not heard back - could be worth contacting them:

https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/newham-pcn-event-day/msg32946/#msg32946