Thank you! That makes complete sense. One point of clarification is that I did not pay a parking ticket as the paid parking bays are actually free during the time period I was there. It applies 10-13 and 14-16 Monday to Saturday and I was parked there at 13:41.
I have drafted a proposed response below, very grateful for any feedback or changes:
"I am writing to formally contest the parking Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued to me under reference number FR60945661 on November 24, 2023. I believe that the circumstances surrounding the issuance of this notice warrant a reevaluation, and I request that you reconsider the decision to uphold this PCN.
I acknowledge that I was parked in a designated 'Permit Holders WSS only bay'; however, my decision to park was based on the information presented on the traffic sign nearby, which allows for paid parking. The sign indicated that a ticket was required between 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm on the day in question. As it was between 1pm and 2pm when I parked there, I did not purchase a ticket. I fully complied with the displayed information and parked my vehicle during this legally acceptable period.
Upon receiving the notice, I carefully reviewed the details provided by your authority. It has since come to my attention that the council has failed to maintain the crucial parking place dividing lines adequately, which demarcate the paid parking bays from the residents permit bays. The markings on the road have almost entirely faded, making it extremely difficult for drivers to discern the boundaries of the parking bays without prior awareness of its existence. This lack of maintenance is a crucial factor that should be considered in evaluating the validity of the issued notice.
Moreover, I assert that the sign in question was misleading and did not conform to the recommended formatting outlined in the Traffic Signs Manual. The sign's placement, in proximity to my parked vehicle, naturally led me to believe that it applied to the adjacent bay. It was only after receiving the authority's response and scrutinising the markings under closer examination that I realised the sign applying to my bay was located much further down the road and away from my vehicle.
I am confident that a fair and thorough examination of the circumstances will reveal that the combination of faded markings and the misleading sign wholly contributed to my parking in a Permit Holders WSS only bay. It is evident that the conditions at the time of the alleged offence were highly ambiguous and created confusion for drivers genuinely attempting to adhere to parking regulations.
I am prepared to escalate this matter to London Tribunals if necessary, as I firmly believe that the failure to maintain the crucial parking place dividing lines and the deviation from best practices outlined in the Traffic Signs Manual are serious issues that warrant reconsideration.
I kindly request that you review this representation with due diligence and take the aforementioned factors into account when determining the validity of the PCN. I trust that a fair assessment will result in the cancellation of the penalty.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to a favourable resolution."
