Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,
Received a Penalty Charge Notice from Wandsworth Council on July 11th.

The contravention is parking on a suspended parking bay.
The road is Ballantine Street. Parked at this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ErZUeAMMRWomgpsr7<br><br>

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What Happened

Arrived on the street, and parked up as shown. Did not see any suspension notices driving, came out of my car, and did not see any then either. Went up the road (away from the notice).

Next day, we've received a PCN while the guy is still there in the morning. Says its too late to cancel, even though we move the car before its an obstruction to the reason they suspended. Car next to us got towed away.


PCN in here: https://imgur.com/a/pcn-dispute-bcDhQP0

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What I've done so far

Was not aware of this site, so I've challenged it on my own. The gist of my argument was the sign was not sufficiently visible.

Here is the full informal challenge I sent them

This argument is based on that the sign was not visible / noticeable enough to be reasonably noticed.


When turning into the road, there is no opportunity to see the sign, as it is on the opposite side of the road, and the turn must be taken safely with observations into the road. This maneuver is illustrated in the diagram (diagram.jpg), and at the point of turning, the sign would have been behind me with a parked car in front of it.

(diagram.jpg)


When reversing, there was no opportunity to see the sign, as the view is obstructed, and the sign is too high to be seen from a sitting position, particularly when reversing trying to focus on the parking maneuver.


When stepping out of the car, there was no possibility of seeing the sign, as the view from the driver's side is obstructed by the tree. This is evidenced in the photo from the officer (image1.jpg), as they had to stand on the road in front of the car in order to have the sign in the photo, rather than standing on the sidewalk, where anyone would get out of the car and walk from.

image1.jpg




I then walked up Ballantine street, where there was no other signs posted despite there being other poles where the signs could have also been posted, as evidenced by the Officer's image (image2.jpg).


image2.jpg

Received their response today (24/09/2025):
<br><br>

The original PCN is for 80. I would lose the "discount" for an additional 80 if I bring it to independent adjudicator as far as I understand.<br>

I would appreciate your thoughts on if it's worth taking the risk in doing so.


I took this the next day, while the suspension sign was still there, but after I had challenged so it was not included, but that's my view coming out of where the car was parked.



Thank you for your time.

I was definitely outside of 6, it's the Brick house in the photo. Tree is right between 5 & 6.

You do have a duty to consult parking signs and it does seem like the suspension was correctly put under the parking sign most relevant to houses 2,4,6.

Lesson learned then, thought they had a duty to display the suspension a bit more than that. Is there no chance for this one then?

There are three measures on the sign though - 15m, 3 car spaces and nos 2-6 - I'd say you are entitled to put them to evidence of the shortest.

Hi, thanks for the advice.

You parked at what time on 10th July?

In the evening, it was not fully dark yet.

Where did you go?

Up the road in the other direction. Live nearby but did not have parking near my house that day so had to go over to that side.

Why did you return at 7.15 the next morning?

Returned to get to work. Though actually I think I ended there a bit later, closer to 8. I guess the ticket officer was waiting around the car that whole time, cause he was there that morning telling me about it around 8.

Yeah, with the tree blocking we just missed it. Left the other direction and usually on those streets suspensions have been on more posts, so didn't think much of it then.