Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all, I’m looking for help with a Barking & Dagenham PCN.

PCN: BZ67913928
Date of issue: 30/12/2025
Location: Dovehouse Mead
Alleged contravention: Parked in a residents’ or shared-use bay without displaying a permit/voucher/P&D.

What happened

I parked in a bay in the car at the above location. The signage for carpark is defaced (spray-painted) and not readable, so the restriction was not clear when I parked.

After receiving the PCN I found another bay sign about ~50m away, but it is across from the car park on the connecting road (not on the same section where my car was parked, and not obviously applicable to the bay I used, https://maps.app.goo.gl/MGpD56cmuLSP6qUg6).

Also, the council rejected my informal challenge saying the vehicle was inside a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and that CPZ signs make restrictions clear. However, I did not pass a CPZ entry sign on the route I used. See on google maps the entrance I took (https://maps.app.goo.gl/o58eiJQHpx8tX8LX6), and then I took the first right onto Dovehouse mead, and parked in the car park containing the defaced sign (https://maps.app.goo.gl/uMAXPfFqUwneUs7x6)


Council response

The council issued a challenge rejection and relied mainly on “you were in a CPZ therefore the PCN was issued correctly”, and asked for payment at the discount or wait for the Notice to Owner.

evidence from council: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hkxi_zHz4C86tqBq285G5fwJ1acAwX8F/view?usp=sharing

What I’m asking

Could you advise:

Whether missing CPZ entry signage on my entry route is a strong ground, and what evidence I should gather (video/photos of route etc).

Whether defaced/illegible bay signs + other sign being on a different connecting road is enough to argue the restriction was not adequately conveyed.

What to do next procedurally (wait for NTO, formal reps, tribunal etc), and whether the council paperwork looks compliant.