I'm really sorry, Incandescent, but I did not take the advice you gave - mainly because it seemed a simple case and I was too busy to go through all the steps at that time.
So I appealed and simply sent the photo I had taken of the sign showing that parking was allowed up to 7pm and only received the reply last Monday 28th. They said that they had turned down the appeal and included their photo (undated) showing that stretch did not allow parking after 4pm. Could they have changed the regulations between the date of the 'offence' (17/9/24) and when I took my photo - 26/9/24, giving a longer period to park there? That is still the case now - how do you find out if the regulations have been changed?
What is the best way to proceed now - I have until a week on Monday to pay the £80 or submit an appeal to an 'Environment and Traffic Adjudicator at London Tribunals'. I am of the opinion that I'd like to appeal and will do whatever is advised on this forum.