Free Traffic Legal Advice

I paid for a 1 year resident parking permit from our local council office. They gave me a 1 month temporary permit and I assumed the 1 year one would be posted. However it turned out I was expected to go back and pick this up from the same office. In the meantime the temporary one had run out and I received a penalty notice. My request to cancel this was turned down on the basis that “without a permit on display the vehicle is considered to be parked in contravention of restrictions”. Have I grounds to fight this? Appreciate any advice