Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: Brunnhilde on July 14, 2026, 10:45:27 am

Title: Re: Met Parking PCN - Didn't register - Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley
Post by: DWMB2 on July 15, 2026, 05:11:47 pm
PoFA could be one angle as above.

Quote from: Brunnhilde on Yesterday at 04:50:52 pm
  • The driver is 70 years old, has English as a second language and has multiple health conditions
Of your proposed grounds, I'm not sure this is particularly compelling. It's unclear how being 70, or having multiple (so far unspecified) health conditions affects his ability to read the signage. MET could seek to counter such arguments by saying they rely on the assumption that drivers who use car parks they operate in are fit and well enough to drive, and therefore ought to be able to read and understand signage they encounter in the course of said driving/parking.

That the requirement to register was less prominent may have more legs, although it's definitely not the worst signage I've seen.

Quote
Meanwhile, go back to the sports centre
Speaking to the council about the actions of their supplier's subcontractor might also be worth a go.
Title: Re: Met Parking PCN - Didn't register - Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley
Post by: Brunnhilde on July 15, 2026, 04:50:52 pm
Thanks. I emailed the manager explaining what had happened including the age, infirmity and English level of the driver. I also included what you said about the fact that they have the legal authority as the landowner’s agent to get the PCN cancelled. Unfortunately they have continued to insist they can't get involved. However, I did manage to get proof from them that the driver had used the sports centre at the time of the contravention. So I could use that to challenge the appeal within the 14-day reduced amount period. I was planning to appeal with the basic facts:
The main point is that the driver was a genuine user of the sports centre and not registering the vehicle licence was an honest oversight due to their the age, infirmity and English level. Any other advice?
Title: Re: Met Park PCN - Didn't register - Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley
Post by: InterCity125 on July 14, 2026, 11:54:00 am
Vale Farm Sports Centre is owned / provided by Brent Council who are a traffic authority and therefore POFA cannot apply at this site.

Meanwhile, go back to the sports centre and tell them that it is something to do with them since their own website makes it clear that "Vale Farm Sports Centre is operated by Everyone Active, acting as agent of Brent Council" - they therefore have the legal authority as the landowners agent to get the PCN cancelled.

Website here;

https://www.brent.gov.uk/parks-leisure-and-healthy-living/sports-clubs-and-activities/sports-centres/vale-farm-sports-centre
Title: Met Parking PCN - Didn't register - Vale Farm Sports Centre, Wembley
Post by: Brunnhilde on July 14, 2026, 10:45:27 am
Hi all,

My dad as registered keeper has received a PCN dated 8th July 2026 from Met Parking for parking at Vale Farm Sports Centre without authorisation for 68 minutes on 3rd July 2026. The driver was using the sports centre but didn't realise they had to register as they didn't read past the headline of '4 hours maximum stay'. On behalf of the keeper and the driver, I asked the sports centre if they could use their discretion to ask Met Parking to cancel the charge but they said that it's nothing to do with them and that I need to deal with Met Parking directly. I haven't submitted an appeal to Met Parking yet. I would really appreciate your advice on what to put in the initial appeal.

Here are the relevant photos: