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I was the driver of my partners motability vehicle today on a hospital trip and couldn't find parking in the car park so ended up parking on FENN STREET E4, nearby the hospital. My partner displayed her blue badge and we parked thinking that it would be OK.

Upon return we found a PCN on the vehicle and was completely unaware that the borough of Hackney have different rules on parking with blue badges in residents permit holders only bays.

The contrivention code is 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, or without payment of the parking charge.

We was under the impression that with a blue badge we was OK to park there. In fact the traffic warden walked straight past us as I was unloading her mobility scooter out of the car with the blue badge displayed.

Looking at the PCN I noticed that the full location has not been provided only 'Fenn street' and was wondering if we had any grounds for appeal?

Just a shame to loose £80 for a genuine mistake.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

https://imgur.com/a/BUh1c3I

See this thread. Asking for discretion seems to be the best first approach although we have had a go at the regulations before in various authorities (with what ends I can't recall).

Where is your BB issued.

https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/hackney-council-12-parked-in-a-residents-or-shared-use-parking-space-or-zone-wit/

Thanks for your reply. I did have a look through that before posting and did find it quite useful but wasn't sure of the outcome.

The BB was issued in Waltham Forest, I'd only driven 15 mins or so from home so didn't realise parking rules had changed.


With regards to asking for discretion, would that still be via the appeal process or would I need to contact them directly?

Thanks again

The council has the option to apply discretion at any stage but you need to challenge through the online PCN process.

Post a draft here before you send anything.

If you read that other thread you'll see that Hackney did use discretion and cancelled the PCN.

My apologies I didn't realise there was a second page. It's good to see Hackney Council can apply some common sense and discretion. Hopefully they can do the same in my case.

I've copied some of the other users challenge and added a few bits (hope that's OK)

Thanks again...


'Dear Hackney Council,

I’m writing to appeal the PCN on the grounds of mitigation. I misunderstood the Blue Badge rules around permit holders only bay and I sincerely apologise for my mistake. In my home borough, as well as other boroughs where I park, it is permitted for Blue Badge holders to park their vehicles in such bays. I wish to ensure to you that there was no intent on evading a parking charge and it won’t happen again. In other circumstances I would have done research in order to avoid a PCN but on this occasion it was a unplanned visit to the hospital A&E.

I’ve been a blue badge holder for 4 years and have always adhered to the rules. I was also surprised that a CEO walked right past my vehicle whilst my partner was unloading my mobility scooter and with my blue badge displayed and never thought to let me know that I would be at risk of receiving a PCN, giving me a fair opportunity to move the vehicle. I also presume it was this CEO that issued it.

As such, I’d appreciate if this could be considered as it was a genuine mistake that could have been avoided and will be in the future. I also believe that had the CEO given words of advice that the PCN could have been avoided.'

Thanks for adding the images. For some reason I have put E4 in the subject but it's actually E9 for anyone wondering. I've also used chat Gpt to draft me a new challenge and I'll include it below.

'Dear Hackney Council,

I am writing to formally appeal against Penalty Charge Notice number QZ20824621, issued on 30/04/25 on Fenn Street for 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, or without payment of the parking charge.”

On that day, I was driving my partner’s Motability vehicle to take her to Homerton Hospital A&E for an urgent medical situation. My partner is a Blue Badge holder, and due to the hospital car park being full, I parked nearby on Fenn Street, E9, displaying her valid Blue Badge clearly on the dashboard as shown in the pictures taken.

As a Waltham Forest resident, I was not fully familiar with Hackney Council’s specific rules regarding Blue Badge use in resident permit bays. Under normal circumstances, I would have researched the local restrictions before parking, but due to the urgency and stress of the situation, I had no opportunity to do so.

We genuinely believed that, as in many other boroughs, displaying a valid Blue Badge would permit parking in a residents-only bay. There were no clear or prominent signs nearby indicating otherwise. In fact, the enforcement officer passed by while I was assisting my partner and unloading her mobility scooter, without giving any warning or indication of an issue.

Furthermore, the PCN only states "Fenn Street" as the location, without a specific bay number or location marker, which makes it difficult to assess exactly where the alleged contravention occurred.

This was a genuine and isolated mistake made under pressing medical circumstances. I have never previously received a PCN in Hackney, and I respectfully ask that you consider cancelling the charge on compassionate and discretionary grounds, given the context, the vehicle's Motability status, and the lack of clear signage.

A copy of my partner’s Blue Badge is attached. I would be happy to provide any further information if required.

Thank you for your time and understanding.'


I'll wait some time before submitting it online to buy some more time.

Thanks for all your help on here

Thanks, I have made changes and will update with outcome.

That's good of them. They should have a policy of first time cancellations for BB holders IMO and may well have.