Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: ikeepgettingtickets on September 03, 2025, 10:50:34 pm
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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.
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Sutton - 51J: Failure to comply with no entry sign restriction - Stone Place
Hello
PCN details
Contravention: 51J: Failure to comply with no entry sign restriction
On: 18:28 25 August 2025
Date of notice: 1 September 2025
Received and opened mail: 2 September 2025
2024 Google Maps view of entryway and markings (https://maps.app.goo.gl/RjdNm3Ypv5YSrBZR9)
2025 Google Maps view from Central Road (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZpUffPpKQ3Nm6zTX6)
PCN, photos of area and diagram mapping my path at the bottom.
TL;DR: I had to p!ss and got caught on camera leaving through the one-way entrance.
I received a PCN for driving through a no entry sign at the Waitrose on Stone Place (off Central Road) in the London Borough of Sutton. I had a desperate need to go to the toilet and Google had told me that this store was open. I rushed there, parked, ran to the payment machine (which was out as it was a bank holiday) and the store was closed... I quickly searched Google for the next nearest toilet and followed the route which took me past a no entry line/signs. I may have been preoccupied with the map and nature's calling, missing the signs. The car was parked facing towards this entryway - in reality the exit was behind them, at no point did I see it.
Anyway... What to do now?
- I can see the PCN is under the TfL Act 2003 and has the "... Make representations before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of service of this notice an increased charge of £240.00" flaw as mentioned in the READ THIS POST spreadsheet and other posts.
- I can see Sutton's charge is up-to-date and accurate on the PCN.
- I would contest that as seen in the 2024 GM view when the sun is directly shining above, the road markings are hard to see. The 2025 GM view suggests they were repainted them and/or that it is more visible on an overcast day.
- I would contest that there is unclear signage within the car park indicating the exit given the arrows/road markings and/or lack of 'Exit this way' sign. I believe that it is not unfounded for the entrance to also be the exit. Even if it is a tight corridor.
- I have not gone to the online PCN link to view evidence as I've always wondered if they use that as evidence you've seen it (of course, I want to delay this as long as possible until I can get a strong argument against this). Question: have I made that up?
- I don't think needing to run to the toilet (without an IBS diagnosis) is legitimate, sadly.
- I don't think that it being a bank holiday makes a difference... Or does it?
I feel that this could be won on technicality (assuming that I am correct with the PCN statement but I have not understood that fully from looking at the few posts on this forum mentioning it). Or an expensive failed attempt. I have not drafted an appeal as I'm unsure on the first point but can/will do so in coming days and update this post.
I appreciate the potential help in advance, thank you, I hope this is a good starting point to not be completely useless. God speed.
Diagram of path taken
(https://i.imgur.com/0p7rTvx.jpeg)
Entry way from Central Road (Google Maps, 2025)
(https://i.imgur.com/slLaW9e.jpeg)
Photo of entryway: no entry road marking and signs (Google Maps, 2024) - accurate weather to the day
(https://i.imgur.com/bJAqcBp.jpeg)
Photo of camera position (Google Maps, 2024)
(https://i.imgur.com/DnWOkwa.jpeg)
Photo of parking spot and store entrance (Google Maps, 2022)
(https://i.imgur.com/hRh2vMk.jpeg)
PCN page 1
(https://i.imgur.com/pCGPJi4.png)
PCN page 2 (overleaf)
(https://i.imgur.com/7lLNWIp.jpeg)
PCN page 3
(https://i.imgur.com/Z9tyUYv.jpeg)
PCN page 4 (overleaf)
(https://i.imgur.com/5WwVJc3.jpeg)