Some thoughts.
Thank you so much H C!
I've incorporated your suggestions as follows:
I wish to appeal the above PCN, on the grounds that the driver was unaware of any restrictions in place when they parked, due to insufficient signage.
When the driver exited the vehicle they looked around for any markings which would indicate whether parking was restricted. There was a clearly-visible sign marking the entrance to the 'Ticket and Meter Zone’ at the entrance to Farrars Avenue, and into Station Road and beyond: this very obviously did not apply to the portion of Farrars Avenue in which the vehicle was parked. Nearer to where the vehicle was parked the driver noticed a smaller sign which was entirely blank apart from a single blue ‘P’ sign (a universally-recognised symbol for parking). Above this, on the same post, was a further sign forbidding heavy vehicles from parking in the area outside of the hours 8am–6.30pm. Apart from this, which clearly did not apply to the vehicle in question, there was no indication of parking restrictions in force in the street.
On returning to the vehicle and finding the PCN, the driver explored the area and discovered a sign indicating the start of a Permit Parking Area. The driver had not seen this before as it is obscured by a tree from the driver’s vantage point when entering the road, as the attached Google Street View screenshots demonstrate. The driver also examined the signs near the car and found that text informing drivers of restrictions in place had been painted over with opaque white paint, leaving only the ‘P’ symbol visible.
Subsequent research has shown that restrictions have been in place in Farrers Avenue for some years and whereas these were previously signalled by two prominent signs on either side of the carriageway (as recently as 2022), the council has let this deteriorate to only one sign on the offside footway which is now obscured (at least at this time of the year) by a leafy crown. Furthermore, the 'repeater signs’ along the street have all been painted over since at least March 2022, leaving ample time for repair or replacement.
With respect, the PCN should be cancelled and the signage improved, at least to the standards deemed necessary in 2022.
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(Note that the car was parked very near to the repeater sign which had been painted out, not on the other side of the road to it – see attached image which I forgot to include before)
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