Free Traffic Legal Advice

Evening all,

Just wanting some advice please if possible. I parked in Richmond Hill Rise on Friday and paid using the RingGo app. I searched for the location using my phone and it came up with the location, so I paid my money and was on my way. Upon the return to the car I'd received a PCN for contravention 21- parking wholly or partly in a suspended bay or space.

Firstly I had no idea I was parking in a suspended bay. The yellow board was on a lampost about 20 metres up the street going the wrong way from where I was walking. However on close inspection, the suspended bay notification was also unclear.

It simply stated "3 parking pay and display spaces, o/s 40-44 Hill Rise, Richmond Town". For a start I didn't have any idea what o/s meant I've worked out that now must be "outside". I also don't know how I'm supposed to work out which 3 spaces they are and where the lines start and end. It also didn't state the start and end time of the suspension, just 24/07/2024- 26/07/2024 (no end time) and the reason was roadworks. There were no roadworks taking place that I could see, no cones displayed and no other cars parked in front of me seemed to have parking tickets on their cars. There was one solitary cone sat on the pavement, which seemed like someone had placed it there.

I've done some research and feel like I can appeal on the basis that there was unclear and confusing signage. 

Please see the link to the photos which the parking attendant took which don't actually show much tbh, but perhaps indicate there was no sign of any road works! Please note final image showing the signage was a photo I'd taken, and good job I did as the image taken by the parking attendant is all blurred and you can't read any of the text.

https://postimg.cc/WtnGRX7v

Thanks so much for any help.

Just had a look on GSV.
Here is Hill Rise.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eRvZ81hHwNm3yQDB8
Where did you park ?
Be aware that although you may have used RingGo, it is still encumbent upon you to check the bay sign for conditions. Suspension signs must be place where the bay restriction signs are, (two here), the ticket machine is not a sign.

So, looking at the photos....

You were parked adjacent to Savills, the estate agents. The bay restriction sign is only a few yards away outside what GSV of May 2022 shows as "Love Food", but is now occupied by another firm.
This GSV shows how close you were to the sign with the suspension notice on it: -
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YELrSwDULrnkYnaS8
The estate agent door has the number 40-42 on it
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q3ZLkv46pajEdo8h6

There are two things you could put in your representations: -

1. Only one suspension sign, but the bay has two bay signs. This could be fatal to their case so needs emphasising.
(you parked, found the bay on RingGo, paid then walked back down The Hill. The sing for the bay you passed did not have any suspension sign on it.

2. the suspension sign details of the suspension are inadequate. There should be much more info on the exact bays that are suspended.

It is not a legal imperative, but if not done, leads to situations like yours. You parked, paid by RingGo, then got out and walked back down The Hill, passing a bay sign on the way, but that bay sign had no suspension sign on it, so you were not alerted to the suspension. This must be your main point in your representations.

How is this for a reply?

Dear Sir/ Madam 

I would like to appeal the PCN number xxxx given to me on 26/07/24 for contravention 21- parked wholly or partially in a suspended bay or space.

Upon parking I used the RingGo app to find the location number where I was parked. I paid and walked down the hill passing a parking bay sign. There was no notice of a suspension on this sign, otherwise I wouldn't have parked here.  I therefore was not alerted to the suspension. When I returned to my vehicle I found a parking ticket. I checked the sign which was on a lamppost a little further up, but must have been out of my view. In fact if you look at one of the photos of my vehicle from behind you can't see the yellow board as it's obscured.

In addition, the suspension sign details are inadequate. There should be more detail on the exact bays as this is difficult to work out unless they are marked out. It also does not state the start and end time. I was unsure what o/s meant, and realised this must mean outside, to non-native English speakers this may be hard to determine.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best xxx