Free Traffic Legal Advice

Where is the PCN? Let's see it. What's this about an EV bay? The suffix a in 21a is temporary traffic order and IMO is invalid for a code 21. 

No need to blank anything.

Good chance of being deemed not to be outside no 197 or trivially.

While the suspension sign is in the right place on the parking sign it needs to draw your attention.

But when did you park there.

The PCN is ridiculous. The contravention did not occur - it isn't an EV bay and they can't qualify a bay suspension as a temporary traffic order (those are usually used to to turn bays/kerbsides etc into no waiting/loading restrictions).

By the way, Camden is one of only two councils (other is Kens&Chelsea) I know that offers an email alert for bay suspensions in a certain road - sign up here:
https://accountforms.camden.gov.uk/parking-bay-suspensions-search-and-alerts/

It's an informal challenge so no need to go into a deep dive.

One other thing - did you miss seeing the sign when you parked? I presume so and you can add that the sign wasn't seen when parking as it was attached to a parking sign half buried in vegetation. I would also include you are a resident and have a parking permit.

I would say:

The contravention of 'Parked wholly or partly in a suspended bay or space- permit holder only electric vehicle charging bay'
alleged on the PCN did not occur for these reasons.

1. The permit bay is not an electric vehicle charging bay.

2. The contravention code is 21a - a is a suffix that means temporary traffic order. I could not see any such order at the location. 

3. My car was outside no 199 and at most trivially adjacent to no 197, which is the extent of the suspended part of the bay.

I look forward to your early confirmation of cancellation of this PCN.

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I'm not sure what to say about point 2 - someone else may chip but I think it's not a correct use of the regulations.

I also wondered if they are turning the bay into EV charging - I can see reference to Goldhurst Terrace in this but not at this location:
https://www.camden.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/introduction-of-electric-vehicle-recharging-point-parking-places-proposals-dated-27-february-2025

Could you get a better photo of the plan on the sign, I can't clearly see the extent of the suspended area and how this relates to the description: outside 197.

I hope the link works, I ve uploaded the full PCN

Thank you both

Thanks.

IMO,

The parking place is 2+ vehicles' long. Their plan splits this into 2 parts with the suspended area being the first. This starts o/s 197 and extends to 199. Your car straddles the limit of the suspended area and IMO your car was within the suspended area by more than a de minimis amount. And even if the narrative number, 197, was taken literally to the exclusion of the plan then your car was still within this area.

There is a single traffic sign and post within this 2+ cars' length parking place which IMO couldn't be missed if the driver had looked.

The 'EV' aspect of the contravention description is clearly wrong and should be advanced, but I'm not certain that this would be considered anything other that a slip by as adjudicator.

I wouldn't give up at the first hurdle. Try this:

The contravention of 'Parked wholly or partly in a suspended bay or space- permit holder only electric vehicle charging bay' alleged on the PCN did not occur for these reasons.

1. The permit bay is not an electric vehicle charging bay.

2. The contravention code is 21a - a is a suffix that means temporary traffic order. I could not see any such order at the location.

3. My car was outside no 199 and at most trivially adjacent to no 197, which is the number specified on the suspension sign.

4. As a resident for x years I do keep a look out for suspension signs but I missed this one probably because it is half-buried in a hedge! I do feel you have a duty to keep parking signs free from vegetation.

I look forward to your early confirmation of cancellation of this PCN.