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#Post#: 124067--------------------------------------------------
PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a restriction on
vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: bluebell
Date: July 8, 2026, 7:04 am
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Hi all,
I would be very grateful for your help.
Date of contravention: 16/06/26
Date of notice: 01/07/26 (Received 03/07/26)
VRM : FV56RJX
Place : Costons Lane/Greenford
Contravention 53J: failing to comply with a restriction on
vehicles entering a pedestrian zone
I received a PCN via post from London Borough Of Ealing for
driving through time restricted School Zone area, during the
restricted hours. Restrictions 2:30-3:45 pm.I was driving down
the busy Greenford rd, turning left onto Costons lane.
Upon reviewing the video footage, there is a sign away from the
driver's view, high up-impossible to read in time when turning
left, due to traffic coming out of Costons Lane, as well as the
traffic turning into Costons Lane from the opposite direction on
Greenford Rd, onto Costons Lane. I believe the signage is
inadequate and impossible to read in time, as its position is on
the corner of Costons lane, away from the driver's view. I
entered the traffic on Greenford rd from Costons lane
The attached dashcam footage was recorded last week because my
dashcam had overwritten the original recording.My point of
argument is that the sign is positioned at a busy junction, high
up,away from my view, at the point of turning left, and not on
the driver's side-impossible to read in time while turning left
from the busy rd. The council's footage shows a child waiting to
cross on the island,so my eyes would be focused on the
pedestrian to turn safely.
I want to fight back and wanted to appeal to the council, but
after reading up silently here, I came to seek your help and
advice. I have 14 days from the beginning of this notice to pay
at reduce cost. I'm not sure if I have 14 days or 28 to appeal
against this. I wasn't able to find a clear sign on Google Maps,
it seems this is relatively new signage for a school zone.
PCN Ealing footage
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/nHqfqeT
Dashcam Greenford rd left turn to Costons lane
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/yyrjnGj#17fisy6
Dashcam Costons Lane right turn onto Greenford rd
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/jCBBdob#B3B2lxh
Google map:
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/ABZvCiB
Signage:
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/WGi5UGl#D1wPgqH
Detail
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/MR9MR5Y#ZOcseDs
I'm not very good with technology, so I hope you'll be able to
view the attached videos and images.
Thank you for your help!
#Post#: 124069--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: jfollows
Date: July 8, 2026, 7:10 am
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Is a civil penalty, I’ll ask the moderators to move to the
correct section.
#Post#: 124072--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: bluebell
Date: July 8, 2026, 7:17 am
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hi,sorry-thank you so much
#Post#: 124084--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: July 8, 2026, 10:48 am
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Can you post a GSV link to the location, please.
#Post#: 124093--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: bluebell
Date: July 8, 2026, 11:14 am
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hi,
I was driving from Greenford Rd, turning left onto Costons Lane;
no additional signs were seen before my turning. My drive
journey was Costons Lane- turning right onto Greenford Road-
then a left turn onto Costons Lane.
HTML https://imgpile.com/p/ABZvCiB#bbAZT90
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/qsi3svg3uzMUjkiN6
#Post#: 124097--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: July 8, 2026, 11:28 am
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Sorry, I mean a link like this one: -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/mPr5eQGWs6EmAsBK6
If you look at the little black box top left of the view, click
on the three vertical dots. You'll get a white box with three
things to select. Select "Share or embed image". Click on that
and you'll get another white box headed "Share". Click on "copy
link", and the link will go into your Clipboard and youo can
then paste it into your thread
#Post#: 124098--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: bluebell
Date: July 8, 2026, 11:39 am
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Can you see it now?
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/CbhxdenBnHD71gKP8
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/hjFhCRDPHjfvtZMY6
I can't see any sign on Google Maps, as it's an old photo from
2019; I can't see any newer one. The signage was introduced last
year. I work at a nearby school and travel this way daily-with
one exception: on the day I finished work earlier and drove
through the roard @1532.whislt usually I drive through after 4
pm. Restrictions are in place between 2:30-3:45pm. My issue is
with the poor signage, which doesn't give you any warning about
the restricted zone; only once you complete your turn, but even
then, the sign is to the left, very high up
I shared how the sign looks in my original post with the links
from my PCN and my dashcam + pictures of the school sign zone I
found online.
I googled 'Costons Lane' on this forum, and it seems people have
the same issue with the signpost. Someone said on another thread
that there is a no left turn sign on Greenford Road. I wouldn't
see it, as I drove from Costons Lane, crossing Greenford Road
and then turning left onto Costons Lane, where the sign is
positioned in a way,that you will only see it once you turn onto
Costons Lane
#Post#: 124106--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: July 8, 2026, 12:38 pm
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OK, so here's the No Left Turn sign, (with days and times), but
it'll be side-on to you coming out of Coston's Lane.
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/yCRVfg7GQFZA9NV78
The main point to make is that the council will not give way, so
you'd have to take them to London Tribunals with the full PCN
penalty in play. If you are not prepared to do that, then
submitting reps could be considered a waste of time. They will
reject your reps and re-offer the discount, as they do to almost
100% of reps they receive.
You have an adequate case, not slam-dunk, I'm afraid, because
your case is based on inadequate signage. The problem is that
'inadequate' is subjective so you would have to convince an
adjudicator it is not adequate.
#Post#: 124113--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: bluebell
Date: July 8, 2026, 3:04 pm
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Hi,
Thank you for your reply & patience.
The "No Left Turn" sign is not visible to me when turning from
Costons Lane onto Greenford Road. I uploaded my dashcam footage
from last Friday's drive home, and the sign doesn't even appear
in my field of view.
I'm fairly sure the council will reject my appeal, and I'm
prepared to take the case to the tribunal. I genuinely believe
this restriction is being used as a money-making generator for
the council because the positioning of the sign at the junction
of Greenford Road and Costons Lane is completely inadequate. It
is impossible to read it safely while making the turn.
In the council's own PCN footage, you can see a child standing
on the pedestrian island waiting to cross. If I had turned my
head to look back at the sign after completing the turn, I would
have been taking my eyes off the road and away from pedestrians,
which would clearly be unsafe.
I have no experience with the tribunal process. My understanding
is that if I challenge the PCN within the 14-day discount period
(the PCN was issued on 1 July 2026), the council will most
likely reject my representations but will normally re-offer the
opportunity to pay the reduced amount of £80 rather than the
full penalty of £160.
What evidence will I need if the case goes to the tribunal? I
already have my dashcam footage and intend to record another
video, as I drive that route home from work regularly. Do you
think poor signage is the strongest argument in my case?
I have also taken photographs of the PCN. Please let me know if
you would like to see them.
Based on my dashcam footage, do you think I have a reasonable
chance of succeeding? "No Left Turn" sign is simply not visible
from the angle at which I approached and made the turn to
Greenford rd.I uploaded my dashcam footage from last Friday's
drive home in my first post, and the sign doesn't even appear in
my field of view.
My question is whether the sign is positioned so that a
reasonably careful driver can see, read and act on it BEFORE
entering the Costons lane.
Even if I was able to read the sign (I would have to take my
eyes off the road), I would have turned by that time and
wouldn't be able to stop & reverse back into the busy road. I
don't know the technicalities of signs, but surely they should
be displayed prominently in the driver's view and in time to
make an important decision.
Can I submit my representations to the council by email,
together with my supporting evidence (email provided with PCN).
I have also taken photographs of the PCN. Please let me know if
you would like to see them.
From your experience, if I were not successful at the Tribunal,
would I still be given a chance to pay £80,not £160?
What do you think? Thank you!
#Post#: 124127--------------------------------------------------
Re: PCN Ealing borough - 53J Failing to comply with a
restriction on vehicles entering pedestrian zone/Costons lane
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: July 8, 2026, 4:50 pm
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There is no discount option at the adjudicators. If you lose you
must pay the full PCN penalty, but that is all, there are no
other costs, and if you win, you pay nothing. Maybe have a read
of what the Earl of Montrose wrote:
"He either fears his fate too much
Or his deserts are small
Who fears to put it to the touch
To win, or lose it all"
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