Ealing Council - Contravention 53J Mansell Road School Street

I have uploaded the full PCN and CCTV.

I was travelling from Twickenham to IKEA Wembley and was unfamiliar with the area. I was proceeding straight ahead and did not knowingly enter a restricted zone.

My concern is that by the time the restriction signs became apparent, a motorist unfamiliar with the area would need to identify the sign, read the time plate, determine whether the restriction was active, and then decide whether to continue or divert. The restriction appears to apply only to a specific section of Mansell Road rather than the entire road.

The CCTV still image makes the signs appear obvious in isolation. However, my concern arises from the actual approach to the restriction. I was travelling straight ahead along a relatively long stretch of road and did not encounter the restriction from a position where I would naturally have paused or stopped. My concern is whether a motorist approaching in that manner is given sufficient opportunity to recognise, understand and react to the restriction before becoming committed to the route.

Is there any argument regarding signage, the location description ("Mansell Road Greenford (2) (U)"), or any defect in the PCN wording?

I have reviewed the footage and do not dispute that my vehicle entered the zone. My question is whether there are any viable legal or technical grounds of appeal.







Link to video - https://imgpile.com/p/3N13I2F#0SryAmx

You approached the signs head-on, so one assumes they came into sight as you approached, yet you drove straight past them without any hesitation at all. Would you have passed the traditional No Entry sign or a traffic light on red ?
These signs are commonly called "Flying Motorbike" signs and are all over London in their hundreds as councils roll out School Street schemes like this and also Low Traffic Neighbour hoods (LTNs). They are the equivalent to No Entry signs for anybody driving a car.

There is a notice in advance of the restriction as well, although this is not a traffic sign so could be criticised at London Tribunals, but the head-on approach to the restriction signs balances this off.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6tLtCj66gckqnaJ79

At the moment, I see no credible appeal argument for London Tribunals, but wait a bit until others post, but don't miss any deadlines on the PCN.

Were you using satnav ?

I was using a Satnav, but I am an experienced driver and don't follow blindly. I did not notice the signs. I've lived in London for just over a year. And the irony is, I live on a school street, which requires a permit. I am somewhat familiar with them. But in my limited experience, the restriction has applied to the road. Before proceeding, there's a natural stop and time to make a judgment before moving. I did not understand that in some streets, the council decides to restrict only part of the road. Regarding any sign further up, I did not see it and do not know if I would have, as I'm unsure where I entered the road. It's a very long road.

I feel confident that if I had approached from the left or right as shown in the video, I would have come to a stop, seen the signs and, whether I could make out the details or not, not have driven on the road. And to be honest with you, if I had noticed the signs whilst driving straight ahead, I most likely would have braked hard to avoid entering the road. I think many people, not familiar with the area or the fact that the council places restrictions head-on, will have been caught out the same way. I found another case on this forum, and their concerns and reasoning are pretty much the same as mine.

Thanks for your detailed description, but I'm afraid the system is against you. Councils refuse virtually all representations, and they will refuse yours assuming you submit some. Revenue from PCN penalties is now generating enormous amounts. London councils and TfL between them are getting well over £600 million per annum, so hardly conducive to a system based on councils determining whether to accept reps or not. Then at London Tribunals, the adjudicators can only decide on matters of law, and cannot decide on the merits of reps based on mitigation.

Sorry to be so gloomy, but that is the state of Britain today, and politicians wonder why their big parties aren't getting the votes anymore !

Have a read here. Mr Mustard puts the revenue at well over £700 million based on a simple calculation !!
https://lbbspending.blogspot.com/2026/02/doublepcnstatslondon.html

I don't think it's as large as that, because parking PCN penalties are lower. But you can see what a scam it has become.