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#Post#: 112511--------------------------------------------------
Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 9, 2026, 5:57 am
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Hi everyone,
I would appreciate some advice regarding a Westminster PCN.
Authority: Westminster City Council
Contravention: Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or shared-use
parking place without clearly displaying a valid permit or
voucher
Location: Davies Street, London
Time on PCN: 19:49
I had just dropped someone off on Davies Street and stopped
briefly further along the street. I had an urgent need to use a
toilet and left the vehicle for a very short time (around a
minute). When I came back a Civil Enforcement Officer was
already issuing the PCN. I explained that I had only been away
momentarily but was told it was too late.
The PCN shows a single time (“at 19:49”) rather than an observed
from/to period.
I noticed the sentence reads ‘The penalty charge must be within
the period of 28 days…’ but it doesn’t say ‘paid’. Is that
normal wording for Westminster PCNs?
I have checked the council photos and they show the vehicle in a
residents’ bay and the sign appears visible.
Before deciding whether to pay the discount or challenge, I
wanted to ask if there are any realistic grounds of appeal in
this situation or anything in the PCN or evidence I should be
looking for.
Many thanks
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#Post#: 112547--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: March 9, 2026, 8:22 am
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--- Quote ---
> I noticed the sentence reads ‘The penalty charge must be
within the period of 28 days…’ but it doesn’t say ‘paid’. Is
that normal wording for Westminster PCNs?
--- End Quote ---
It's probably been like that for 20 years at least !! So the
question is, does leaving out the word "paid" make the PCN void.
This would depend on which adjudicator you got, because there is
such a thing as "substantial compliance". A PCN must contain
mandatory information as per the regulations, and here they are:
-
HTML https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/71/contents/made
Look at Schedule 2
#Post#: 113431--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 16, 2026, 12:59 pm
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Just bumping this thread as the 14-day discount period is about
to expire.
The PCN was issued on 5 March and the discounted amount of £80
ends soon. Before deciding whether to pay or challenge, I wanted
to check if anyone sees any potential grounds based on the PCN
wording or the evidence photos.
Many thanks again for any guidance.
#Post#: 113441--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: March 16, 2026, 2:04 pm
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There's no observation time on the PCN - where was this toilet?
#Post#: 113443--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 16, 2026, 2:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The toilet was in a nearby restaurant on Davies Street. I had
just dropped someone off on the same street and stopped briefly
further along. I stepped inside only momentarily as it was quite
urgent, and when I came back the CEO was already issuing the
PCN.
Yes, the PCN only shows a single time (19:49) and does not show
an observation period.
#Post#: 113444--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 16, 2026, 2:08 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
When I came back the CEO was already issuing the PCN. I tried to
explain the situation, but he said he was entitled to issue the
PCN immediately and that there was no need for an observation
period.he indicated he would make a note of the circumstances
though, not sure what does that mean.
#Post#: 114321--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 25, 2026, 4:44 am
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Just a quick update – I’ve now received a rejection from
Westminster.
They have re-offered the discount at £80 for a further 14 days.
Their response states that the boarding/alighting exemption does
not apply as I had left the vehicle.
Given this, I’m minded to pay the discounted amount, but just
wanted to check if anyone sees any further grounds worth
pursuing before I do so.
Thanks again for all the help.
#Post#: 114335--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: tincombe
Date: March 25, 2026, 5:52 am
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Your reps and their response in full pl.
#Post#: 114341--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: Tod
Date: March 25, 2026, 6:26 am
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Here is my informal challenge submitted to the council:
my Dear Sir or Madam,
On-line challenge for WE64399953
On the grounds of:
I wish to challenge this PCN for other reasons
Reason:
I wish to challenge my PCN for another reason
Further explanation :
Dear Westminster City Council,
I would like to make an informal representation regarding PCN
WE64399953.
On 5 March at approximately 19:49 on Davies Street I had just
completed dropping off passengers nearby.
Immediately afterwards I briefly stopped further along the
street as I had an urgent need to use a toilet.
There are no public toilet facilities in the immediate vicinity
and the situation was quite urgent, so I stepped inside
a nearby restaurant only momentarily. I returned within about a
minute, at which point the Civil Enforcement
Officer was already issuing the PCN.
I explained the situation to the officer when I returned and he
indicated he would make a note of the
circumstances. I would be grateful if you could review the CEO
notes in relation to this interaction.
I fully understand the parking restrictions and normally take
great care to comply with them. This was a very brief
stop caused by an unexpected and urgent personal necessity,
rather than any intention to park in a residents’
bay.
For completeness, I can provide evidence of the journey and
drop-off that took place immediately prior to this
stop.
In light of the very short duration and the circumstances, I
would be very grateful if the council could consider
exercising discretion to cancel the PCN.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I also attached a screenshot of the trip showing the drop-off on
Davies Street, along with a screenshot confirming the vehicle
registered on my account.
Council rejection:
Dear ......
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above Penalty
Charge Notice (PCN).
The PCN was issued because you parked in a residents' or shared
use parking place or zone without a valid virtual permit
or clearly displaying a valid physical permit or voucher or pay
and display ticket issued for that place where required, or
without payment of the parking charge.
Your challenge against this PCN has been rejected because you
are not permitted to park in a resident bay without a valid
resident permit.
Drivers are permitted to pick up and set down passengers and
their luggage and most regulations provide an exemption for
this purpose.
It should be immediately obvious to a CEO that the vehicle is
parked for the purpose of picking up or setting down of a
passenger.
A vehicle may stop for as long as necessary to assist any person
to board or exit the vehicle if assistance is required. When
the passenger has been assisted, you must then return to the
vehicle and park the vehicle in a designated parking bay.
There is a high demand for resident parking space in the City of
Westminster and to ensure that as much space as possible
is made available for the use of permit holders, any vehicle
parked in a permit holder's bay that a CEO is unable to confirm
is covered by a valid permit on their handheld device, is a high
priority for enforcement action. While this may sometimes
seem harsh, the City Council needs to take this course of action
to keep resident bays clear for use by permit holders, who
pay an annual fee to park near their homes.
If you do not have a residents' permit, and you need to park
during controlled hours, you may do so in Pay-to-Park bays.
These facilities are for general use and are intended to allow
short term stays. If you need to park outside controlled hours,
you may do so free of charge on single yellow lines and in
Pay-to-Park bays.
It remains the motorists' responsibility to ensure they have
parked correctly and adhere to the restrictions in place or may
be liable to receive a PCN.
I am able to offer you a further 14 days, from the date of this
letter, to pay the PCN at the discounted rate. You now have
two options.
Option 1 - Payment at the Discounted Rate
Please now make a payment of £80.00. This is the discounted rate
and the charge will revert to its full amount of £160.00 if
we do not receive the 50% discounted payment within the
specified 14 days.
Payment can be made by:
- Online at
HTML http://www.westminster.gov.uk/paypcn
- Visa / Delta / MasterCard / Maestro / Switch by calling
Parking Services on 020 7823 4567. Lines are open 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year.
- Cheque or Postal Order made payable to 'City of Westminster'.
This should be sent to Parking Services, PO Box 351,
Sheffield, S98 1TU. Please state the PCN number on the back of
the cheque/PO.
- In person at any Post Office in Westminster. Details of branch
locations can be found at
www.westminster.gov.uk/postoffice.
Option 2 - Make a Formal Representation
If you do not pay within 14 days from the date of this letter,
the full charge of £160.00 will fall due. If you have not paid
before the end of this 14 day period or the period of 28 days
beginning with the date of service of the PCN, whichever is the
later, then we will issue a Notice to Owner (NtO) to the
registered keeper of the vehicle. The NtO will allow the
registered
keeper to make full payment or a formal Representation,
appealing against the issue of the PCN; the procedure for doing
so will be explained on the NtO. Any new evidence can be
presented with the formal Representation.
To find out why the Council needs to collect and store personal
data, how this is used and your rights to access your
information please refer to our Privacy Policy
(
HTML https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parking-services).
Yours sincerely
Jonathan Rowing
Head of Parking Operations
#Post#: 114356--------------------------------------------------
Re: Davies Street, London, Code 12 – Parked in a residents’ or
shared-use parking place
DIR By: tincombe
Date: March 25, 2026, 9:03 am
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As I read it, you parked in and then left a res parking place in
order to use a toilet facility in a nearby restaurant. You claim
this was of necessity and that it lasted for approx. 1 minute.
Your reps said you could provide evidence of the drop-off but
did not actually provide as far as I can see.
IMO, your defence goes to mitigation only and there isn't a
statutory defence which applies. It would be useful to know when
the drop-off actually occurred in order to put 19.49 in a
context.
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