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#Post#: 47573--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: H C Andersen
Date: November 29, 2024, 10:11 am
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I can't read the receipt easily, you must host externally and
simply link here - see READ ME FIRST on the front page of the
forum.
You paid £545 to get your car released.
£65+£200+£280 equals £545.
Anyway, car removed 18 Nov. therefore(and others correct if
wrong pl) storage charges commence at midnight on 19th @£40 for
each whole or part day that the vehicle is impounded after
midnight 19th. Therefore 20-26th were whole or part storage days
= 7 days.
7*£40 = £280.
What does 'They tried to charge me £40 extra because it's based
on 24 hour periods and the car was listed on trace.london as
being checked in to the pound at 12:38, so I pointed out I was
there before 12:30 and they didn't have me pay the extra £40
(this still seems to be listed as outstanding on trace.london
though).' mean? The charges have nothing to do with TRACE
notifications.
What we do know is that the 28-day period ends on 23rd Dec, so
no rush.
#Post#: 47947--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: atleastitwasntstolen
Date: December 2, 2024, 4:30 pm
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Here is a link to the receipt image hosted on Imgur. All the
images in my previous posts were hosted on imgur and included
using a BB code embed link as per the READ ME post directions,
apologies if something didn't work quite right. I'll add links
for the other photos of documents to the bottom of this post in
case they're easier to read.
HTML https://imgur.com/CepZsCI
HTML https://imgur.com/CepZsCI
I've checked and it is the PCN evidence portal
(
HTML https://towerhamlets.tarantoportal.com/)
showing the
outstanding PCN charge, not Trace. It shows that there is £40
still outstanding to pay on the PCN, even though I have
reclaimed the vehicle. According to a sign at the pound, in
Tower Hamlets storage charges go by 24h period from time of
impound, with Sunday not counted. So 12:38pm Monday the 18th to
before 12:38pm on Tuesday the 26th would have been 7 x £40
(eight 24h periods, minus 1 for the Sunday), whereas it would
have been 8 x £40 after 12:38pm on Tuesday the 26th. I was there
waiting to pick up the vehicle between 12:20pm and 12:30pm on
Tuesday (earliest my work schedule would allow) and the staff
member saw me waiting. There was one person at the window with a
difficult case, so I was not called up and able to pay until
after 12:38pm - they tried to charge me the extra £40 for it
being after 12:38 and a new 24h period having started, but I
pointed out I was present since before 12:30 and had been
waiting in the queue, so they just charged me the £280 for
storage (plus the other fees). I'll call up tomorrow to inquire
why it still lists an outstanding £40 on the PCN.
I have since found out that the suspension was for 25 car spaces
"next to cycle hire station - opposite garage" for the purpose
of filming. The date is listed as "18 November 2024 to 18
November 2024 at any time". The Suspension Reference Number is
TTS0176903. I am still waiting to hear where the signs were
posted and on which dates. I'm not sure if it's worth noting,
but the first point on the Suspension Terms and Conditions is
"Unless there are exceptional circumstances, no more than 10 car
spaces will be approved per application per day for a
suspension."
Source:
HTML https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/transport_and_streets/Parking/Terms_and_conditions/Suspension-terms-and-conditions.aspx
HTML https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/transport_and_streets/Parking/Terms_and_conditions/Suspension-terms-and-conditions.aspx
Receipt:
HTML https://imgur.com/CepZsCI
HTML https://imgur.com/CepZsCI
PCN front:
HTML https://imgur.com/KJGHViX
HTML https://imgur.com/KJGHViX
PCN back:
HTML https://imgur.com/sShemk3
HTML https://imgur.com/sShemk3
Representations info:
HTML https://imgur.com/xhypSwY
HTML https://imgur.com/xhypSwY
Back of representations info:
HTML https://imgur.com/oq3cJDO
HTML https://imgur.com/oq3cJDO
Notification of vehicle removal:
HTML https://imgur.com/yLxfG2A
HTML https://imgur.com/yLxfG2A
Vehicle damage sustained during removal/storage:
HTML https://imgur.com/2q7DML9
HTML https://imgur.com/2q7DML9
#Post#: 50261--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: atleastitwasntstolen
Date: December 17, 2024, 2:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Hello! I’ve gathered the following additional info:
- The parking suspension for Nov 18th was applied for on Nov
11th. This is a total of 5 business days (6 if you’re generous
and count both the 11th and the 18th to that total) in advance
of the suspension which goes against Tower Hamlets suspension
application T&Cs on multiple counts.
- A total of 25 bays were suspended for filming, starting “next
to the cycle hire station”. My car was parked 13 – 15 car
lengths from the cycle hire station.
- Parking department says they posted signs on the 13th of
November
I’ve drafted the following, which I'll be submitting on Friday,
and would very much appreciate any feedback:
-----
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to formally challenge the Penalty Charge Notice
(PCN) issued to my vehicle (Registration Number: LP13 JYJ) on 18
November 2024 for being parked in a partly or wholly suspended
bay.
I would like to submit the following points in my representation
for your review and consideration:
- Suspension application process general terms and conditions
violated on multiple points: I have been informed that the
relevant suspension application was submitted on 11 November
2024. This was 7 calendar days (5 business days) in advance of
the suspension date of 18 November 2024. The suspension was for
25 spaces. This is in direct opposition to points 1, 3, 10, and
11 of the Tower Hamlets Suspension Terms and Conditions for
parking suspension applications
(
HTML https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/transport_and_streets/Parking/Terms_and_conditions/Suspension-terms-and-conditions.aspx).<br
/>As this suspension was for over the usually allowed limit of
10
car lengths (T&Cs #1), the suspension would have to have been
applied for 10 days in advance of the suspension date (T&Cs
#10). Furthermore, even if the suspension was for only 10
spaces, points 3 and 11 would have been violated, which require
applications are submitted and paid for 7 working days in
advance “in order to give residents enough notice to make
alternative arrangements.” As the suspension application was
submitted only 5 working days in advance of the suspension date,
even this lower threshold was not met. Point 12 of the T&Cs
notes that shorter notice applications can in some cases be
approved at the discretion of Tower Hamlets, however the
examples provided include emergencies such as “gas/water leaks,
road collapse, police for security purpose”. Filming should not
be considered an appropriate emergency according to these
descriptions. As such, the suspension was not properly applied
for, the suspension itself not valid, and my PCN should be
voided.
- Incorrect suspension signage used: From the photographs taken
at the time of the PCN being issued, it is clear that the
suspension signs the council used do not conform to the
Authorisation drawing approved by the Secretary of State for
Transport under Sections 64 and 65 of the Road Traffic
Regulation Act 1984 for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
(GT50/096/0006). As per point 1 of this document, suspension
signs must “conform as to the size, colour and character with
the sign shown in the attached drawing…”. The text and design of
the posted suspension sign clearly differs from the approved
design, invalidating the suspension.
- No Opportunity to Rectify the Situation: According to the PCN,
my vehicle first ticketed at 09:56. On 27 November 2024 I
received a letter notifying me of the vehicle removal, which
states that the council "removed the above vehicle from Southern
Grove on 18/11/2024 at 09:56". This indicates I had no
opportunity to rectify the situation between the issuance of the
ticket and the removal of my vehicle. In circumstances where a
parking contravention is identified, it is common practice to
allow the driver an opportunity to move the vehicle if they are
able to do so, or at least be informed of the contravention
promptly. The lack of such an opportunity in this case seems
unjust, as I was unaware of the suspension and had no chance to
move the vehicle before it was removed.
- Alternative Action Not Taken (e.g., Moving the Vehicle to
Another Bay): Given that there was an available bay on the other
side of the road, it would have been reasonable for the council
to have considered moving my vehicle there rather than
impounding it, especially since I was not informed of the
suspension at the time of parking. I believe that removing my
vehicle to the pound was an unnecessarily harsh action resulting
in excessive storage fees.
- Excessive Storage Fees Due to Delayed Notification: Since I
was not notified of the vehicle’s removal until a week later
(letter received 27 November 2024), I was unaware that my car
had been impounded and thus did not have the opportunity to
prevent further storage charges. I use my vehicle on average
once a week and spent two hours on the late evening of Monday 25
November believing my car had been stolen, searching surrounding
streets for the vehicle in case I had misremembered the parking
location, and walking to the Bow Police Station. This delay in
notification has caused me undue financial hardship in the form
of excessive storage fees. I request that the council take this
into account and consider reducing or waiving these fees due to
the delay in informing me about the vehicle’s removal.
- Damage to vehicle: Upon picking up my vehicle and returning
home I identified a long scratch along the left side of the car,
along with a shorter scratch below the handle, which were not
present prior to the 18 Nov 2024 and which are not visible in
the photos the council employee took prior to removing my
vehicle. Therefore it can be assumed that this scratch happened
either during the removal (e.g., scraped by tree branches when
being transported) or while in storage at the impound lot.
In light of the above points, I respectfully request that you
cancel the PCN, vehicle removal, and storage fees. I believe
that the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the
questions surrounding appropriate suspension application
procedures being followed, an unapproved suspension sign design
being used, the lack of opportunity to rectify the situation,
damage to the vehicle, and the financial burden caused by the
delayed notification, warrant the cancellation of the associated
charges.
#Post#: 50271--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: December 17, 2024, 3:54 pm
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As such, the suspension was not properly applied for, It's
acceptance by the council was unlawful, not being within the
council's own acceptance criteria, the suspension itself not
valid, and my PCN should be voided.
PS: good on you for doing the homework !
#Post#: 55220--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: smelly-beard
Date: January 26, 2025, 2:10 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: atleastitwasntstolen link ---
>
> Hello! I’ve gathered the following additional info:
> ...
>
--- End Quote ---
Was there a resolution to this? I am in a similar situation with
Tower Hamlets and would be interested to hear their response to
your appeal.
Thanks!
#Post#: 55631--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: atleastitwasntstolen
Date: January 28, 2025, 1:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Update: I've unfortunately received a letter (dated January 9th)
stating that my representations have not been successful. If I'm
understanding correctly, an appeal would be due Thursday
February 6th.
I've attached a copy of the letter here - is there any chance of
an appeal being successful, and if so how would I best go about
doing so?
Thanks for any help!
J
HTML https://i.imgur.com/IOR1Q8m.jpeg
HTML https://i.imgur.com/3JeAWCP.jpeg
#Post#: 55657--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: January 28, 2025, 4:14 pm
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You must appeal to the tribunal within the 28 day deadline or
lose the opportunity.
#Post#: 55673--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tower Hamlets Council - Code 21, suspended bay or space,
Southern Grove Road - PCN, towed, and vehicle scratched
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: January 28, 2025, 6:23 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
It is also a total no-brainer to appeal to London Tribunals,
because you have already paid all there is to pay, and could get
some, or even all, of it back. If you lose you pay nothing more,
its already paid.
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