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The council claim this is off-carriageway parking.
Currently, where you parked seems on first glance to be a driveway to access commercial premises that passes across the footway. But no vehicles can access those premises because there is a fence with a pedestrians gate. There is no gate for vehicles. So why is there this large space ? If it is not carriageway, what is the purpose of the large wooden bollards ? Clearly these are intended to separate vehicles from pedestrians.

It is quite clear that the space is a turn-round, because if one drives virtually down the street one finds that it  is blocked by bollards, and there is no space for any vehicle to turn round at all apart from the private parking space for the flats at the end of the street.

In fact GSV of 2022 shows this was a turn-round point for motor vehicles. Later, some time after 2022,  the council  "prettied-up" the street but the purpose of that space remains as the bollards show. This means it is carriageway, therefore the contravention of being parked off-carriageway did not occur. Of course the CEO could have served you a PCN for parking opposite the double-yellow lines but didn't, no doubt because he has been told not to, because there are exemptions for these, like assisted boarding/alighting which you did.

That's my take on it, anyway.

Is the below ok please?




Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to formally challenge the above Penalty Charge Notice issued for alleged contravention code 624, which refers to parking on an area other than the carriageway (e.g., verge, footway, or central reservation).

I respectfully submit that the location where my vehicle was parked cannot reasonably be considered as "off-carriageway" for the following reasons:

1. Nature and Purpose of the Area in Question
The space where my vehicle was parked appears, at first glance, to be a driveway serving commercial premises. However, it is important to note that these premises are fully secured by a fence and only accessible via a pedestrian gate—there is no vehicle gate, nor any vehicle access provided or possible.
Moreover, the presence of large wooden bollards clearly indicates the council's intention to separate vehicular movement from pedestrian areas. The space in question is physically designed to manage vehicle access and maneuvering, not as pedestrian space or footway.


2. Use as a Turning Area for Motor Vehicles
The end of the street in question is fully blocked by fixed bollards, leaving no alternative space for vehicles to turn around other than the area where my vehicle was parked. This area is used daily by an average of 20 vehicles as a turn-round point—a fact I am able to evidence with dated photographic and video proof, which I can supply if required.
Historically, Google Street View imagery from 2022 also shows this area as a turn-round point, which remained unchanged until the council undertook cosmetic improvements post-2022. Despite these visual enhancements, the function of this space remains that of vehicle maneuvering, which is reinforced by the layout and physical features of the area.


3. Misclassification as Off-Carriageway Parking
Given the above facts, it is clear that this area serves the purpose of a carriageway. The existence of bollards, the historic and continuous use of the space for vehicle turning, and the absence of any physical signage or road markings indicating that this is a restricted pedestrian-only space all support that conclusion.
Therefore, the contravention of parking off the carriageway cannot reasonably apply in this instance as the space, by function and design, is part of the carriageway, specifically serving as a turning point.



Conclusion
In light of the evidence and context provided, I respectfully request the cancellation of this PCN as the alleged contravention did not occur. Should you require additional proof (including videos or logs of daily vehicle usage), I am happy to provide this upon request.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Received a parking ticket in this location but it's part of a road

Exactly, therefore on the face of it the contravention occurred.

Unless you have got or can get photos to set a different context, you were parked on a road but not on the carriageway. Tne DYL are placed at the edge of the carriageway and you were beyond these. In previous years GSV showed the DYL in a different setting meaning that at that time where you were was considered to be part of the carriageway.

But now?

What is a 'public turnround point'?

Latest GSV shows the DYL are placed at the edge of the carriageway - they used to diverge from the carriageway but have now been deliberately placed parallel to the centre-line and compatible kerbstones have been installed* therefore IMO what's beyond them isn't carriageway as regards traffic signs regs definitions.

The public clearly have unfettered access to walk across this area, therefore it's part of a road.

The gate existed even in the previous configuration but there wasn't a crossover(the footway wasn't lowered), to all intents and purposes it was just a pedestrian access to somewhere.


*- these are set flush with the surface of the carriageway(which would normally indicate a crossover, but so are those before and after therefore this isn't out of the ordinary as regards the present layout for this part of the road.

OP, clearer contextual photos pl.

Pl understand the distinction between 'road' and 'carriageway'.

It is a road.

The question is whether where you were is also considered to be a carriageway.

By law, DYL must be placed 'at the edge of the carriageway'. Therefore, as GSV suggests that these are now parallel to the centre-line of the main carriageway AND that you drove beyond these to park then you were not parked on the carriageway.

We need current photos pl showing the context.

The Google Street View I shared in my initial post is the same as it is today so apologies I'm not sure I'm following what you require here?

Ok sure,

I'll take a few photos at lunchtime today