Free Traffic Legal Advice

I parked my motorbike in a bay in hounslow (which accoriding to their website is free:

Where you can park
You can park your solo motorcycle (two-wheeler) for free within the borough at the below locations. Please note that because we still use paper permits you are currently exempt from having to display a permit.

in a dedicated motorcycle bays on-street or in our car parks.

in any resident bay/shared use bay, although we ask that you park at an angle to the kerb (where the width of the bay allows this).



Where you can't park

on the pavement (unless there's a motorcycle parking bay there)

on yellow lines


I parked my bike here and was given an 11u - parked without payment of the parking charge.

I guess its fairly obvious this should be appealed as bikes park free?!
The only thing is it was a 2hour max which I actually didnt see. But regardless they have given the wrong contravention code.

EDIT::::::
AFTER HEARING SOME COMMENTS I REALISE P&D Bay may not be free..

Is it now a lost cause ? 


Here are some pics to help:

Hammersmith & Fulham, Merton and Wandsworth are other councils that let motorcycles park for free.

The Wandsworth wording is very similar, possibly a bit more explicit:

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/parking/parking-bays/motorcycle-parking/
Motorcycles can park in any permit holder or shared use (permit holder and pay and display) bay without displaying a permit or pay and display ticket.

Motorcycles should be parked in a sensible manner that reduces the impact on parking space for other vehicles (at the end of bays where possible).

They should be parked within a bay and at 90 degrees to the kerb, except where the gradient/camber of the road does not allow it, or an obstruction could be caused to traffic.

Please note motorcycles are not permitted to park in pay and display only (shopper) bays without a valid pay and display ticket.

There are also a number of solo motorcycle bays throughout the borough.

than the Hounslow one:

https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20104/parking_in_hounslow/1125/parking_on_the_street/6
Where you can park

You can park your solo motorcycle (two-wheeler) for free within the borough at the below locations. Please note that because we still use paper permits you are currently exempt from having to display a permit.

    in a dedicated motorcycle bays on-street or in our car parks.
     
    in any resident bay/shared use bay, although we ask that you park at an angle to the kerb (where the width of the bay allows this).

Where you can't park

    on the pavement (unless there's a motorcycle parking bay there)
     
    on yellow lines

The Wandsworth website states clearly that you cannot park for free in a pay & display only.
The Hounslow website doesn't.
If you have time you might probably find how other councils worded their rules.

I'd base a challenge on this: the section "where you can't park" of the Hounslow website does NOT mention "pay & display only" bays.
And take a dated screenshot of the website in case they change it.

To be clear, I have no idea what your odds are.

You might want to search https://londontribunals.org.uk/ -> view statutory registers -> environment and traffic -> search
or https://www.londontribunals.gov.uk/eat/key-cases
to see how similar appeals were treated.

You are right. I had misread it. I mean, the Wandsworth wording is much clearer in spelling out that motorcycles cannot park for free in certain bays. The wording in question is probably legally OK but I can't shake off the feeling it was intentionally not made clearer so as to catch out some motorcyclists. But I doubt this will be a valid defence.