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I don't think I'm right in saying the PCN is incorrect, if anyone has time please do give this a quick read - I'd appreciate any guidance.

My draft PCN appeal

Representation Against PCN SU80434501 – Vehicle AN17NYM

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally make a representation against the above Penalty Charge Notice, issued for allegedly failing to comply with no entry sign restriction at Stone Place on 25/08/2025.

This was a genuine and unintentional mistake made while exiting the adjacent car park. I would like to highlight the following:

Mitigating circumstances: medical emergency
I suffer from IBS symptom and am currently under review by my doctors. On the day there was a flair up that resulted in a significant and sudden urge to use the toilet. Travelling Southbound on the A3, Google Maps suggested Waitrose Stone Place. On the Bank Holiday, it turned out to be closed. Upon discovering this I searched for an alternative. It directed me to the next nearest toilet passing through the same side road that I entered. I was in major distress and under time pressure. I was following Google Maps closely and in the emergency failed to the notice the no entry signs. Attached are redacted notes from my latest GP appointment.

Signage and faded NO ENTRY markings on the road
Upon entering from Central Road from an Easterly direction the one way signage is obscured by a tree planted as well as advertising boards and the Iceland storefront. The visual clutter made the signs impossible to see and failed to notify me that this was a one way road. See attached Google Map screenshots from June 2025.

At the site of the no entry signs, I was under the impression that the right one applied to the side gravel road adjacent as it was closer to that one. As noted in subsection 4.9.5 in the Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 (2019) this means there should be two clear signs provided, however, the significant shade on the day, under the harsh direct sunlight conditions, made the partially faded no entry sign non-visible as well as the left no entry sign as it is straight forward and the pole it’s on was obscured by rubbish — the angle at which I approached the road on top of these made the sign impossible to see. Only in the evidence is it made clear.

Waitrose poor traffic management and signage
As I rushed in to Waitrose, I parked in the middle of the empty car park facing the direction I entered. There was a lack of appropriate signage indicating to me the exit (for example: “Exit this way” or “Thank you for shopping at Waitrose”) and the traffic flow and give way markings on the floor made me assume that the entrance that I had come through was also the exit.

Given the above context and the genuine nature of this misunderstanding, I respectfully ask for this PCN to be cancelled or at least considered for discretion, particularly as this was my first mistake in the area and due to the unclear exit signage and mitigating circumstances.

Yours faithfully,
X

I'll probably put this in a PDF with photographic evidence included similar to what I'd do with a private ticket appeal.

Thanks a lot in advance.