Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,

So I have had no response from the council to my email sent on 19/01/2026. In which i posted photos of the faded yellow box. Today I received today from DEBT RECOVERY via SMS message link: photos attached

START QUOTE

"Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Representation against PCN WE58227873
Vehicle registration: YS67 ZZL
Date of Notice: 12/11/2025

I previously wrote to you on 29th Dec 2025 but I have yet to receive a reply. I wrote: "Due to what appears to be delays in postage, I have only just received this PCN, I ask that the clock be restarted to allow me reasonable time to investigate this matter."

I have now investigated the matter and I am making my representation below. Your website does not allow me to send this through the website and I need to attach images so please accept this via email.

After seeking legal advice and investigating the matter, I would like to appeal that 'C: The Contravention did not occur', due to the following reasons as visible in the video you already have and my two photos attached:

a) the large coach was blocking my view of the yellow box
b) the box was faded and not visible from my driving seat (the view from the sky may be visible but as clearly shown by photos attached above, the box was highly faded and not possible to discern from the ground level.

Two photos show a highly faded box from 1) my driving route and 2) from the side road.

My legal advice has informed me that adjudicators have frequently agreed with such representations when submitted with the photographic evidence attached. Therefore I am of the strong opinion that this PCN should be cancelled as it was incurred in circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the motorist.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,"

END QUOTE

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Surely the fact that I didn't receive their letter until much later than I should have should have been enough for the council to respond directly to me rather than going to Debt collection? What are my rights please?

Yes I am living here.

Is there anyone that can advise is my response above adequate?

Thank you

This is my planned response, please could experts advise me which box do i "tick", is it "There was no breach of the bus lane order or regulations"?

Dear Ealing Council,

The event occured on 27/11/2025 and I received the PCN letter more than one month later on 28/12/2025. I was therefore outside the 28 day period to respond and legal advice I sought advised me to wait for the enforcement notice before responding. I have now received the enforcement notice and would like to appeal for erasure of this PCN due to the following reasons:

My route from Croyde Avenue, turning right onto Greenford Road and then left into Locarno Road does not have the visible signage to indicate the presence of the Bus Lane, nor the hours of operation.  There is a faint appearance of the words bus lane at the end of the route, but this is not clearly visible and there are no hours of operation visible as shown by the screenshot and the route images below (5 images in total).

In addition, I received the PCN 32 days after the event and this is outside a reasonable window of time.

I therefore argue that the PCN is therefore invalid due to inadequate signage and duration of time lapsed until the PCN was served and so the PCN should be cancelled.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
xxxxx

Dear moderators and advisors,

The "Enforcement Notice" has arrived as per below.  The advice previously was:

1) Go to Tribunal and ask the council to attend with a person who signature certified the video having to attend, bet they don't do and hence I win the appeal - would i have to physically attend for this?
2) Ask the council to prove that signage was present to inform me that the bus lane was in operation during that time.

Please advise what is the best plan and what I should do next? Thank you

Surely this is an easy win, argue there is no signage proving that the car was parked in a residents only bay.  It is upon the council to prove that it was parked exactly in a zone which was residents only correct? And for the Council to map the location and prove it was definitely in a residents only bay is going to be too much work for the council and possibly impossible to prove, so they will pull out just before the tribunal date.

As per this situation where Joe Lycett got out of a similar fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gkiw7zpULo

Could @hippocrates or @cp8759 assess please?

Hello,

I note your advice. However do I not need to reply within the 28 day period since the notice which was issued on 3/12/2025? 28 days will be Wed 31st December 2025 deadline. I think the PCN must have arrived delayed in the post on 27/12/2025.

I've checked again and yes there was no signage on the 2 photos and 1 video uploaded by Ealing council, except for the lane marking which said "bus lane"

Please advise about the deadline period of 28 days?

Thanks, Sid

Ok so it still allows me to pay the full amount £160.

Before I submit representations that the clock should be set back to the discounted rate because I didn't receive it until now, what else can i say in the representation to help me?

b) Can I argue coach blocked my view of junction until too late?
c) Can I argue I was not blocking the movement of traffic despite stopping in part of the box

Thank you

Hi and thank you, Yes I am the owner with the V5C.

The delay in receipt appears to be due to postage delays, as it was issued 11 days after the alleged contravention according to the paper, despite me only receiving it now almost 2 months later.

I imagine you were referring to cases where the council issues it 2 months later?