Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

I've received an NTO after a failed appeal regarding a ticket received for parking in a bay on St John's Street in Manchester. I parked at 7pm and paid for 1 hour's parking before I visited the theatre to watch a show. I assumed, as is the norm on the streets on Manchester, that parking is free after 8pm. There was no clear signage to indicate otherwise.

I returned to my car after the show to find a ticket that was issued at 20.22. After questioning a traffic warden why I'd received it, I and many others who were in the same position were told that apparently, after 8pm, you are unable to park there and it turns into residents parking only. They pointed out a small insignificant sign indicating this. We asked why it wasn't made clearer and noted on the parking meter etc. They conceded that it wasn't clear and suggested we appeal our tickets based on the fact we'd found the signage confusing.

I did so and the appeal was rejected. The council stated there was a yellow line on the bay which indicated parking restrictions. I totally understand I should have noted this but everyone else who'd parked on the street was also unaware. It seems to be a new measure introduced at some point in the past 12 months and none of us had any idea. There are also posts online about people being caught out here so I know I'm far from the only one who this has happened to.

I returned to the street to take photos of the lack of signage on the streets as you turn in to the road, and on the meters. I spoke to another warden there who also agreed the signage was lacking and that I should reappeal. I did so with the photos I took but this appeal was rejected.

I've now received the NTO asking me to pay £70 on the grounds that I had parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours (code 01). Are there any grounds on which I can appeal?

I can post the NTO if it will help but don't have it to hand right now. It will be a day or two before I can add it to the post but thought I should at least ask for advice.

Hi,

Please find the NTO attached. I can't locate the appeal I sent on the Manchester City Council Portal but I can copy and paste the replies received:


1...
Thank you for your enquiry, which we received on 19 June 2025.
St John Street, where you were parked, has a single yellow line which is enforceable from
8pm to 8am, 7 days a week. There are 2 time plates on the street to advise drivers of this
restriction, and in addition to this there are pay & display bays which are operational from
8am to 8pm.
As your vehicle was parked at this location between the hours of 8pm and 8am, the PCN was
correctly issued as the single yellow line was enforceable.
I note your comments on how to appeal. Please refer to point 3 in the section below.
You have these choices:
1. The PCN will be reduced to £35.00 if it is paid within 14 days from the date this letter was
served.
2. If you do not pay the PCN within 14 days of this letter being served, the charge will
increase to £70.00.
3. If the PCN is not paid or successfully challenged, the Council may serve a Notice to Owner
(NtO) after 28 days of the PCN being served on the owner of the vehicle requiring payment of
the full PCN. The owner can then make representations to the Council and may appeal to an
independent adjudicator if those representations are rejected. The NtO will contain
instructions for doing this.


2....
Please note we have previously responded to your informal challenge enquiry. I have
investigated your case and read the previous correspondence and I can see that you are
raising a point that we have answered in our previous letter.
Although I understand that you feel strongly about this point, I do not have anything new to
add to the answer we gave previously. Should you wish to pursue this matter then you must
make a formal representation as is explained within the letter we have sent you.
Your PCN will continue to progress until either the agreed amount is received within the 14-
days as stated in our response letter or a formal representation is submitted, using the NtO
document, that will be issued and posted in due course.
Please note that we will not continue to offer the discounted rate to pay indefinitely. Please
note, we have already responded to you twice outlining our reasons for upholding the case,
and confirming that all signage and markings are present and conform to all legal
requirements. Therefore, we would not seek to respond again until after the NtO is sent. This
is scheduled to go out on the 25 July and cannot be sent any earlier as this is part of a
statutory legal process.
Alternatively, you can visit the Traffic Penalty Tribunal website on
www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk where you will find further advice and information on
appealing a PCN.



Thanks in advance for any advice.

Amended it to include car reg. Thanks.