DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
FreeTrafficLegalAdvice
HTML https://ftla.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so ...
*****************************************************
#Post#: 83668--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: August 1, 2025, 4:18 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[member=24]Hippocrates[/member]
Thanks for the feedback. I have made some subtle changes to use
extenuating circumstances
--- Quote ---
>
> I wish to make formal representations against the issuance of
this PCN on the following grounds:
>
> 1. Extenuating Circumstances – Rerouting Due to Roadworks
> On the date of the alleged contravention (17 July 2025), I was
the driver of the vehicle. While travelling in the area, I
encountered roadworks and was rerouted by temporary signage onto
an unfamiliar route. This diversion led me into the restricted
School Street zone unintentionally.
>
> Due to the diversion, I was unable to follow my usual route
and had no advance warning of the restriction. The rerouting
signage gave no indication that it would lead into a restricted
area. The School Street signage was only visible at the point of
entry, by which time it was too late to turn around safely. The
alleged contravention was not wilful, but arose due to
circumstances beyond my control and a lack of clear advance
warning.
>
> 2. Inadequate and Ambiguous Signage – “Term Time Only”
> The signage at the restriction point includes the phrase
“School Streets Restricted Access – Term time only”. This
wording is inherently unclear and unhelpful to motorists,
especially as term dates vary across schools, boroughs, and
school types. No dates or contextual guidance are provided at
the location.
>
> London Tribunals have repeatedly found such signage
non-compliant:
>
> * In **Rodney Quinn v Redbridge (2240530827), the adjudicator
ruled that a motorist cannot be expected to know school term
dates and allowed the appeal due to unclear signage.
>
> * In **Malcolm Batki v Redbridge (2250084692), the adjudicator
found that “term time only” undermines clarity and fails to
comply with the required standard of signage.
>
> Redbridge Council’s own term calendar confirms that term
continued until 22 July 2025. However, the phrase “term time
only” offers no certainty or transparency at the point of
compliance, rendering the signage ineffective for enforcement
purposes.
>
> Conclusion
> This PCN should be cancelled on the grounds of:
>
> - Extenuating circumstances caused by emergency rerouting,
> - Ambiguous and misleading signage,
>
> According to Regulation 6 and Schedule 18 of the TSRGD 2016,
the said sign is not authorised by law. The alleged
contravention was not intentional and arose from diversion and
unlawful signage. I respectfully request that the PCN be
cancelled.
>
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 83685--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: Hippocrates
Date: August 1, 2025, 5:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The alleged contravention!
#Post#: 83701--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: Chaseman
Date: August 1, 2025, 7:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I had a similar situation recently and drafted the following,
although didn't in the end have to use it. It may be useful:
[Signage saying] that restrictions apply in School term times.
This is proscribed by Regulation 6 and Schedule 18 of the TSRGD
by reason of omission. Such a period is not one of the permitted
expressions in para 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 18. In plain
English, a driver cannot be expected to know what school term
dates are. He might have a good idea that the middle of
November, say, is term time but not on which precise date at the
beginning of July the summer holidays will start.
So there are particular types of notice that ARE permitted
according to the TSRGD, such as "Match Days only" but there is
no mention of "Term Times only" and as the list must be read as
prescriptive, this implies that any other type of exception
signage must not be permitted, i.e. proscribed. I note that you
have picked up the TSRGD reference in your re-draft OP.
My particular "offence" was committed on 2 July and the term
dates for the public school just up the road, which as a matter
of fact I attended many years ago, have the school holidays
starting on 4 July. So who is to say whether term dates are only
for state schools of the borough in which they are located?
Public (which of course means private!) schools are also schools
and have term times and holiday times.
#Post#: 83714--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: August 1, 2025, 10:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Hippocrates link ---
>
> The alleged contravention!
>
--- End Quote ---
I just added "alleged" in the two places where it was missing in
the above draft.
#Post#: 83718--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: August 1, 2025, 10:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[member=65]Chaseman[/member] [member=24]Hippocrates[/member]
Should i replace
--- Quote ---
> Redbridge Council’s own term calendar confirms that term
continued until 22 July 2025. However, the phrase “term time
only” offers no certainty or transparency at the point of
compliance, rendering the signage ineffective for enforcement
purposes.
>
--- End Quote ---
with
--- Quote ---
> Additionally, this type of signage is not permitted under the
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016.
According to Regulation 6 and Schedule 18, “term time only” is
not one of the legally prescribed time-based exceptions listed
in paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 18. This omission makes it
proscribed by law. Permitted expressions such as “Match Days
only” are explicitly listed, but “term time only” is not, and
therefore cannot be used to impose enforceable restrictions.
>
> Furthermore, “term time” itself is not a uniform or legally
defined period. Term dates vary between state and independent
schools, and across local authority boundaries. In this case,
even if Redbridge schools continued until 22 July, there is no
way for a reasonable motorist to know this at the point of
entry.
--- End Quote ---
Would this lend a little more weight? or should i stick to the
draft above?
#Post#: 83721--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: August 1, 2025, 10:38 am
---------------------------------------------------------
It's already long and the points about signage made.
[i]The blue supplementary plate displaying “term time only”
contributed directly to the confusion. My wife was unfamiliar
with the area and did not realise the restriction was in force,
particularly given the time of year — just days before the end
of the school year.[/I]
It looks like your wife is the keeper? So the reps must come
from her so this is wrong.
And if an adjudicator asks her about this what would she
truthfully say?
But some adjudicators will just consider the signage
non-compliant without question but let Hippo guide you.
But confirm who the PCN was served on.
#Post#: 83729--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: August 1, 2025, 11:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[member=2249]stamfordman[/member]
Thank you for raising these points. The car is registered to my
wife and she was the driver at the time. I have corrected the
grammar. I'm just doing the donkey work on her behalf. And i
have redacted the point about confusion as this was the not the
case. She just didn't see the sign due to being distracted by
the rerouting.
#Post#: 83743--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: Hippocrates
Date: August 1, 2025, 1:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
If you say she did not see the blue sign this will be a major
problem!
#Post#: 83774--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: August 2, 2025, 4:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Can we play with the wording a little to strengthen the case?
#Post#: 101175--------------------------------------------------
Re: Redbridge - 53J - term time only sign
DIR By: bigred247
Date: December 5, 2025, 11:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hi folks,
Just receieved the evidence pack from Redbridge council. It's
about 26 pages so I have added a google drive link to the full
doc below.
HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HbOUJl-fjU3WG0PRouklIDC_ToF1HEHd/view?usp=sharing
Any thoughts on this?
*****************************************************
Page 3 of 6
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page