Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

The driver is a paying member at Surrey Sports Park and parked up to use the facilities on 2 separate occasions:

• 02/03/2026 - 3h 3m
• 05/03/2026 - 2h 3m

As part of being a member, the driver is entitled to 5 hours free parking at the complex with an Active Permit, which they have held since 16th January 2026.

On 16th March, I, the registered keeper, received 2 PCNs in the post. I went through the internal appeals process providing evidence of membership in addition to the active permit, but both appeals were rejected. The reasoning they gave appears to be:

In order to park at the University car parks, you must have both an active permit on the Permit System and an active Evology Autopay Account. The correct vehicle plate must be registered on both systems, and you must have sufficient funds to pay for the parking on each visit within the Evology Account.

Looking at the parking sign, I do not see anything which states an Evology Autopay Account, or anything else, is required for the 5 Hour free parking for members to apply besides an Active Permit. It states very clearly that:

"Surrey Sports Park members - Must have an active permit to be entitled to 5 hours free parking (tarrifs apply thereafter).

The internal appeals process has suggested my only options now are to pay the charge, or appeal via POPLA.

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

I would agree with you - there is nothing on that signage which states that you need to register on both systems.

In theory this should be a win at POPLA appeal stage.

Also, the PE NtK is not PoFA compliant but that would be a secondary point to your first and obvious appeal point.

Have you tried speaking with management at the Sports Club? I'd imagine that many people would be caught out by this.

Personally, I think PE are trying it on here.

One wonders why you haven't received a PCN in the time since 16th Jan?

Hello!

My first point of call was the sport complex reception and they said there is nothing they can do, and I have to follow up with ParkingEye. Some people I know who work there have also chased this up for me and they've reported the same thing.

And yes, you're absolutely right, many people have been caught out by this, including clients of the personal trainers from what I've heard.

I think the reason I didn't receive PCN's back in January was because ParkingEye only recently took over management of this car park, and so there was a period of time to allow people to get setup with a permit. I think they only started to enforce the terms from march.

I've not had to appeal a PCN through POPLA before so do you have any advice for when I do?

You mentioned that the NTK from PE is non compliant. What makes it non compliant? I'll use that as supplementary point to my appeal.

I'm assuming my primary appeal point will be something along the lines of Unclear Signage? Or no terms were breached?

Thank you.

A complaint to the Sports Park operators explaining this issue, as the more people that complain the better.

Yeah I'll certainly be making a formal complaint, but unfortunately that doesn't solve my PCN matter in the short term.

They flat out refuse to get it cancelled, saying they are contractually unable to..