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#Post#: 122116--------------------------------------------------
PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: MSaad01
Date: June 17, 2026, 11:32 am
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Hi all,
I've received a private Parking Charge Notice from Parking
Control Ltd for allegedly being "parked within a restricted
area" at The Green Quarter, Southall, London, England.
The PCN was issued by post and I've attached the PCN, their
evidence photos, a Google Maps link to the location
HTML https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5062176,-0.3786101,3a,75y,320.17h,75.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1scD0GJnocFZr-z0n2lyB1NA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D14.135497247652353%26panoid%3DcD0GJnocFZr-z0n2lyB1NA%26yaw%3D320.16593746674414!7i16384!8i8192?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYxMy4wIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D&skid=87cc5aab-988b-44f9-bb9d-ed522446ea74,<br
/>and a video showing the approach to the road.
Evidence:
HTML https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KuImUObrxj1YbSdSOqdFibXytz22bQfX?usp=sharing
One thing that stood out to me is that there are no signs
visible when entering the road. The first sign is only visible
once you've already entered, and it's quite lengthy with a lot
of text on it.
The evidence photos are timestamped:
21:58:45
21:59:01
22:01:06
22:02:20
So based on their own evidence, the vehicle appears to have been
there for around 3 minutes 35 seconds in total. The photos also
show the vehicle directly in front of the sign.
The appeal portal shows:
Date: 07/06/2026
Time: 22:02
However, the PCN letter itself refers to 21:56, which doesn't
appear anywhere in the evidence photographs provided.
My questions are:
Is there usually any grace/consideration period for reading a
sign before deciding whether to stay or leave?
Does the fact that the photos only show around 3 minutes 35
seconds have any significance?
Is it relevant that the PCN refers to 21:56 but the evidence
starts at 21:58:45 and the appeal portal shows 22:02?
Could the lack of signage at the entrance be a strong appeal
point if the first sign is only visible after entering the road?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
#Post#: 122117--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: jfollows
Date: June 17, 2026, 11:36 am
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There is no “period of parking”, see
HTML https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/9/schedule/4
--- Quote ---
> 8(1)A notice which is to be relied on as a notice to keeper
for the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(a) is given in accordance
with this paragraph if the following requirements are met.
>
> (2)The notice must—
>
> (a)specify the vehicle, the relevant land on which it was
parked and the period of parking to which the notice relates;
--- End Quote ---
There is a minimum 5 minute “consideration period”.
A “grace period” is an additional 10 minutes added to a period
of parking paid for, so does not apply here.
#Post#: 122121--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: MSaad01
Date: June 17, 2026, 12:02 pm
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Thanks. Just so I understand correctly, are you saying the PCN
may not be POFA-compliant because it only states a single time
(21:56) rather than a "period of parking"?
The evidence photos they provided are timestamped 21:58:45,
21:59:01, 22:01:06 and 22:02:20, so they appear to show a total
duration of about 3 minutes 35 seconds. The PCN itself says the
vehicle was photographed at 21:56, but there is no photo from
that time.
Does that strengthen the "no period of parking" argument, or is
the stronger point that they appear not to have provided all the
evidence relied upon?
Also, regarding the 5-minute consideration period, if the only
sign is visible after entering the road and contains a large
amount of text, would 3 minutes 35 seconds potentially fall
within that consideration period?
#Post#: 122147--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: jfollows
Date: June 17, 2026, 3:24 pm
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I suggest you read
HTML https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/Sector%20Code%20Templates/sectorsingleCodeofPracticeVersion1.1130426-2.pdf
#Post#: 122166--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: InterCity125
Date: June 18, 2026, 1:11 am
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The notice also fails to meet the requirements of PoFA Schedule
4 Paragraph 9(2)(b) - the notice fails to state that "the
parking charges have not been paid in full" which is the second
requirement of the sentence set out in 9(2)(b).
#Post#: 122764--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: MSaad01
Date: June 23, 2026, 12:22 pm
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--- Quote ---
> Dear Sir or Madam,
>
> Re: Parking Charge Notice [PCN NUMBER]
>
> I am the registered keeper of the vehicle and I dispute your
Parking Charge Notice.
>
> Firstly, the Notice to Keeper does not appear to comply with
the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act
2012. Paragraph 9(2)(a) requires the notice to specify the
period of parking to which the notice relates. Your Notice
merely states a single time of 21:56 and refers to a "period of
parking that immediately followed the time specified above", but
no period of parking is actually specified.
>
> Further, Paragraph 9(2)(b) requires the notice to inform the
keeper that the driver is required to pay parking charges and
that those charges have not been paid in full. No such statement
appears in the Notice to Keeper. Accordingly, you cannot rely on
Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to transfer
liability from the driver to the keeper. I am under no
obligation to identify the driver and will not be doing so.
>
> Secondly, your own evidence is inconsistent. The Notice to
Keeper states a contravention time of 21:56, yet the evidence
photographs supplied are timestamped 21:58:45, 21:59:01,
22:01:06 and 22:02:20, while the appeal portal records the time
as 22:02. No evidence has been supplied supporting the alleged
contravention at 21:56.
>
> Thirdly, the evidence provided demonstrates a duration of
approximately 3 minutes and 35 seconds. The entrance to the road
does not contain any clear signage and the first sign only
becomes visible after entering the road.
>
> Furthermore, the sign itself contains extensive terms and
conditions requiring time to read and understand. The Private
Parking Sector Single Code of Practice provides for a minimum
consideration period, and your own evidence falls within that
period.
>
> In view of the above, I require that this Parking Charge
Notice be cancelled.
> No admission is made as to the identity of the driver and no
assumptions may be drawn.
>
> Thanks,
>
--- End Quote ---
How does this sound?
#Post#: 123606--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN for 3.5min and no signage before entering the road.
DIR By: MSaad01
Date: July 2, 2026, 11:10 am
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--- Quote ---
> Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above Parking
Charge Notice (PCN). I have considered your case carefully and
have decided to reject your appeal on the following grounds;
>
> The vehicle was parked in a manner that contravenes the terms
and conditions for the use of the private land on which it was
photographed. These terms and conditions are clearly stipulated
throughout the area and upon review, the operator is confident
that the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) was correctly issued, in
line with these signs.
>
> On this occasion, the vehicle was parked in a restricted area.
>
> The advertised terms require vehicles to be parked wholly
within the confines of a marked bay. Therefore, all out-of-bay
areas are ‘no parking zones’ and deemed to be
restricted. The signage is clear in outlining the terms and
conditions of parking and the onus is on the driver to ensure
compliance with the terms.
>
> Photographic evidence provided clearly shows the vehicle to be
parked outside of a marked bay and thus, a PCN was properly
issued.
>
> You aver that the signage was not sufficient in bringing the
terms to your attention. I have reviewed the signage on site and
am confident that it is adequate and compliant throughout the
parking area. The site has ample additional signage to advise
motorists of the terms, which has been audited by the
International Parking Community, and has been found to be
sufficient to bring the terms to the attention of all motorists.
>
> It has been noted that you are appealing the charge as the
keeper of the vehicle and are not prepared to name the driver.
Under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
(‘the Act’), Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd may
seek to recover unpaid parking charges from the registered
keeper of the vehicle. The conditions of the Act have been
satisfied and as, to date, the full name and “address for
service” for the driver have not been provided, we reserve
the right to exercise our right to purse you, as the keeper.
>
> It is maintained that Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd do
comply with the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Protection of
Freedoms Act 2012 (‘POFA’), and I am confident that
our notice to keeper is compliant.
>
> Ultimately, while we appreciate the circumstances you have
outlined and appreciate that this is not a situation anyone
would like to find themselves in, the terms and conditions for
the use of the land have been put in place to ensure fair usage
for all motorists and support the needs of our client. We are
confident that these conditions are clearly communicated to all
motorists by way of the signage and that this signage fully
complies with industry standards.
>
> Therefore, in light of the above and upon review of your case,
I must reject your appeal on this occasion.
> You now have a number of options;
> 1. Pay the Parking Charge Notice at the discounted amount of
£60.00 within 14 days. Please note that
> after this time, you will be liable for the full charge of
£100.00.
--- End Quote ---
This is what I have received as a reply and seems like a
standard one as they did not address the points I raised, what
next?
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