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#Post#: 101942--------------------------------------------------
Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian
zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South Greenford
DIR By: FH123
Date: December 11, 2025, 2:10 am
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I received 2 PCNs for the same contravention within 13 mins of
each other on the same day, travelling through an area I have
never driven through. Total amount is £320 for driving down a
regular road on a Monday morning (the only time I could make the
journey due to working full time).
Both PCNs state the name of the road and are for entering a
restricted pedestrian zone. Neither states an exact location,
just the name of a long road. Both have a tiny, dark thumbnail
showing my car travelling along a normal road for cars.
PCN 1 (Greenford):
HTML https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/vB7GEye_xl.png
PCN 2 (Southall):
HTML https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/pnwdDby_xl.png
I have never even heard of the 'restriction on entering a
pedestrian zone' contravention before this and am still not 100%
clear on what it is or how to identify it in future.
I understand certain roads near schools become 'pedestrian
zones' at certain times, but the roads remain open and look
exactly like a road. There may be a sign somewhere with small
text, but no actual road traffic sign in a red circle to show
you cannot enter.
I cannot find the signs on the 2 roads in Google maps. I have
tried to view the evidence online on the official Ealing council
PCN portal, but I get an error and clicking on the link they
emailed me only opens a blank webpage. So I cannot see where it
was, what I did or what kind of sign was there.
I had no idea there was a school in that area, or that there
were restrictions or what days or times they would apply.
I think the sign may be in the corner of the dark thumbnails on
the PCN, but I can't read it (too small), and it strikes me that
would not be readable from a moving vehicle in traffic,
especially if turning left into the road. It was also a dark
morning, raining and I had my windscreen wipers on. In one photo
there is a van on my inside between my car and the sign, so not
sure I would have even seen it.
Do I have any case for appealing and not paying?
This feels like pure robbery.
#Post#: 102006--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: Hippocrates
Date: December 11, 2025, 7:06 am
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See the 1st link in my profile.
#Post#: 102297--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: Joshi84
Date: December 13, 2025, 7:31 am
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I have also had the exact same PCNS for the same locations, like
you I also not know the area and don't understand legal jargon.
I am not sure how to appeal the claim.
#Post#: 102300--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: Hippocrates
Date: December 13, 2025, 7:36 am
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--- Quote from: Joshi84 link ---
>
> I have also had the exact same PCNS for the same locations,
like you I also not know the area and don't understand legal
jargon.
>
> I am not sure how to appeal the claim.
>
--- End Quote ---
Please start your own thread.
#Post#: 109232--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: FH123
Date: February 9, 2026, 11:57 am
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I challenged the 2 PCNs on the grounds that the signs were
obstructed or not readable from a vehicle and also that I am
penalised for the same contravention twice within 10 mins. It
said 30 working days to get a response. It's now been over 40
working days. Is there a limit by when these cases timeout?
#Post#: 109233--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: FH123
Date: February 9, 2026, 11:59 am
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[member=24]Hippocrates[/member] I clicked your profile but not
sure which link you are referring to.
#Post#: 109332--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: Homer
Date: February 10, 2026, 8:44 am
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--- Quote from: FH123 link ---
>
> I challenged the 2 PCNs on the grounds that the signs were
obstructed or not readable from a vehicle and also that I am
penalised for the same contravention twice within 10 mins. It
said 30 working days to get a response. It's now been over 40
working days. Is there a limit by when these cases timeout?
>
--- End Quote ---
When did you submit the appeals?
#Post#: 109363--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: FH123
Date: February 10, 2026, 11:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
11th December via email [member=3604]Homer[/member]
#Post#: 109378--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: February 10, 2026, 1:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FH123 link ---
>
> I challenged the 2 PCNs on the grounds that the signs were
obstructed or not readable from a vehicle and also that I am
penalised for the same contravention twice within 10 mins. It
said 30 working days to get a response. It's now been over 40
working days. Is there a limit by when these cases timeout?
>
--- End Quote ---
There is no limit under the LLA & TfL Act 2003 on the time the
enforcing authority has to respond to representations, but there
is a common law duty on them to act fairly and expeditiously.
Adjudicators at London Tribunals regard responses over 3
calendar months as unfair and potential grounds for
cancellation.
#Post#: 111423--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ealing PCN - 53J restriction on vehicles entering a
pedestrian zone - Allenby Rd Southall & Oldfield Ln South
Greenf
DIR By: FH123
Date: February 27, 2026, 2:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Ealing council has now responded to my appeal. 53 working days
after I sent my representation by email.
They have rejected both appeals: 2 tickets for the same
violation 13 mins apart.
The grounds for rejection are:
- They believe the signs are compliant 2016 Traffic Signs
Regulations. They have not addressed that there was a massive
van blocking the sign and encroaching into my lane where I had
to go into the opposite lane to get around it, right at the
point where I should have been passing the sign behind the van.
This is clearly shown in their video, but they did not even
acknowledge it in their response.
- They sympathise with my situation, but have to enforce all
contraventions in a far and consistent manner and cancellation
would set a precedent to other motorists. i.e. No matter what I
say happened in the appeal, they will ignore it anyway so they
can continue to fine everybody. To me this undermines the
principle of 'appeals that are considered based on their
specific circumstance.'
- The above includes the double penalty on the same stretch of
road for the same thing. Cancelling one would set a precedent.
It should indeed set a precedent. They should not be double
fining anyone for the same thing within a reasonable window.
This opens up the possibility of putting up 100 signs every 1 km
and unlimited fines.
The sign in question has 10 lines of information. Chat GPT tells
me all road signs should be easily readable within 2 seconds. I
don't know how I would read that sign safely whilst keeping my
eyes on the road or within 2 seconds.
Chat GPT also found this research on road signs:
Human Factors Research (Important Point)
Studies used in traffic engineering show:
Drivers process symbols faster than words
Each additional line increases processing time
Multi-clause instructions significantly reduce comprehension at
speed
Older drivers require longer reading times
So while 2–3 short lines may be fine, paragraph-style text is
not considered appropriate for drivers in motion.
The penalties are £160 each so £320 in total for driving down a
normal public road, very safely and responsible (apart from
missing the wordy signs of course). This reduces by 50% if I pay
in the next week or so. Obviously I feel I haven't done anything
deliberate, wrong, dangerous or irresponsible. I've just been
inadvertently caught out, and the double penalty feels
especially harsh.
I need some advice at this point: Is this worth taking further
or should I just pay? Is there any chance I would win if I
appeal to London Tribunals? Even if I overturn one of the
penalties I have to pay the full £160 on the other one, so it
would just be a more time consuming way to get to the same end
result.
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