3. Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
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Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
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Hi all,

I received a PCN (Code 25) in Harrow on 09-Aug-2025 and would appreciate advice.


What happened:

  • I drove with my family (pregnant wife, elderly parents, and young child) to a temple near Headstone Drive / Harrow & Wealdstone.

  • I parked in a spot with a single upright sign stating “Loading Only.” There were no bay markings or “Loading Only” painted on the road.
  • I believed I was okay as I immediately registered my car in the PayByPhone app (first hour is free in that car park), but I now realise that doesn’t authorise use of a loading bay.
  • I left the car to escort my wife and parents slowly to the temple entrance. Due to their mobility needs, this took some time. Once we all reached the temple, I immediately returned back to the car.
  • The CEO observed my car from 12:35–12:43 and issued the PCN at 12:43.
  • I actually saw the CEO taking photos as I came back (after about 8–9 minutes away) and explained the situation. He told me to challenge it online.
  • The PCN states: “Parked in a loading place or bay during restricted hours without loading.” Location given is *“HEADSTONE DRIVE PrncsDr–HarVw, about 3 yds to the tp.”

Key details:

  • Photos on Harrow’s site only show my car from different angles, including the sign.
  • There were free parking bays nearby at the time, but I mistakenly thought registering in PayByPhone covered me.
  • My absence was short (≈8–9 minutes), but not continuous loading, it was helping vulnerable passengers alight and reach the entrance.


Does the boarding/alighting exemption apply here, given I was genuinely helping a pregnant passenger and elderly parents? Should I also ask for the Traffic Management Order and CEO’s full notes in case they reject the challenge.

I’d be very grateful for any guidance on how best to approach this or if someone could share their similar experience.
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #1 on: »
Pl repost with PCN and VRM visible. We need to be able to access their photos..

Do you have a GSV of the exact location?
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #2 on: »
Apologies, please find attached the non redacted pic.

PCN record: IY00226502

Also the latest GSV is from 2012 so I dont think that would be helpful. It looks quite different from the old GSV but let me know if you still need it
« Last Edit: August 17, 2025, 11:37:05 pm by yvsalaria1 »
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #3 on: »
Some of council pics.

It's not a car park? The contravention is for an on-street loading place.

Assisted alighting to nearby premises is an exemption but you will probably have to supply some proof of need.

Where is the temple in relation to where you parked and was it about the nearest.

What is the map location - the PCN seems to say Headstone Drive, Princes Drive 'HarVw'



« Last Edit: August 17, 2025, 11:58:07 pm by stamfordman »
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #4 on: »
You should post the back of the PCN so that we can check the all-important 'blurb'.

But assume that a challenge made within the 14-day discount period would see the discount re-offered if unsuccessful and so submit a challenge no later than 22 Aug. We haven't got a clear GSV but the loading bay sign is clear. Looking at the road surface, I would think that they would argue that:


(2) The marks and gaps forming the boundary of the bay may—

(a)vary in number and length; or

(b)be replaced by a continuous white line.

(3) The bay may be varied to contrast, in pattern or colour, from the surrounding parts of the road and any adjoining bays, in which case the marking may be omitted.

By all means claim the exemption of assisted alighting, but I don't know whether it applies and of course it's for you to prove your entitlement.
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #5 on: »
Back of the PCN is attached. Refer PCN Back.jpeg

Here is the GSV - https://maps.app.goo.gl/sb3aCVf3kgeFPASp6

Like I said, it is quite old, now they dont have the divider in between.

It is a car park with Paybyphone location code - 804599

I have managed to get the latest upper view of the location where I parked. Check Screenshot Upper view.png

In this screenshot, 1st Arrow shows from where I entered, Arrow 2nd is where exactly I parked (and as you can see many of others do park there) and Arrow 3rd is from where I went towards the temple.

Here are the temple coordinates - 51.59356774378332, -0.333886387398547 which is around 4 min walk from the parking area. Attached is the path I traversed, refer 14-32 Headstone Dr, Harrow to International Siddhashram Shakti Centre - Google Maps.pdf

There is another nearby parking location to the temple having paybyphone code - 802008 however that was full at that moment hence I had to park where the contravention happened.

It was my Mother's birthday that day hence we went to the temple to seek blessings. I can provide documents related to pregnancy, Mother's identity card showing DOB and Car registered on PayByPhone. Would you suggest including any other docs while challenging this PCN?
« Last Edit: August 18, 2025, 04:12:27 pm by yvsalaria1 »
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #6 on: »
Anyone please?
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #7 on: »
Quote from: yvsalaria1 on August 19, 2025, 12:26:31 am
Anyone please?
My view is that your reps should concentrate on the assisted boarding/alighting aspect. You could not park in the pay bays near the temple as they were full. However, you seem to have been under a misapprehension regarding paying to park. You have to be in a parking bay requiring payment, not a bay labelled 'Loading Only".

However, submit reps on the assisted boarding aspect.
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #8 on: »
Thank you. For the Harrow council, it seems if the challenge gets REJECTED, I will no longer be able to pay discounted fee.

I would appreciate if you can tell the chances of success in my case. If it is low, I would prefer going with the discounted fee.
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Re: Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading
« Reply #9 on: »
I can't see a success here at adjudication.  You say yourself you saw the Loading Only sign, yet thought paying cancelled that out. Of course you have the absolute right in law to take them to adjudication in the assisted boarding exemption.
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  3. Parked In A Loading Place Or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading