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#Post#: 105179--------------------------------------------------
Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or yellow
line markings
DIR By: SteveinBolton
Date: January 9, 2026, 5:22 am
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Hi,
I received a letter from Bolton Council stating a notice had
been served on me for the offence of parking in a taxi rank. No
offence code was given, just simply 'Parked on a taxi rank'
Apparently I was previously served with a PCN stating that the
fine would have a 50% discount if paid within 14 days, but I
never received this letter, so it seems that the full charge of
£70 is due within 28 days. I have queried the fact I didn't
receive the first letter with Bolton Council but I have yet to
receive a reply.
The street itself (Churchgate - outside Ye Olde Man & Scythe
pub) has a layby off the main street, but there are no marked
bays, either in white or yellow, nor is there any solid
white/yellow line along the kerb or the wording 'TAXI' painted
on the road either. There are several small signs stating
Loading Only between 6am - 7.30pm (in white)and No Waiting
between 7.30pm - 6am except taxis (in yellow) above the white
sign. The time of the alleged offence was 20:07.
The Google street view URL is:
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/LZ2wJ5zwwBjfK5s59
I was parked approximately where the white van is, in front of
the police car.
PCN notice (with name and address redacted) can be found at:
HTML https://photos.app.goo.gl/q75sQ3p7tAJyQ73T8
This is the first page, any other pages are available on
request.
Do I have any grounds to appeal this, considering total lack of
any road markings?
#Post#: 105184--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: January 9, 2026, 6:17 am
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You're in a Restricted Parking Zone, with signs at the entrance
to it. Such zone require no yellow lines, and are designed to
avois the need for signs and lines and to make the place look
better. Are you a stranger to Bolton ? There are repeater signs,
and you have to look out for them. If something appears to good
to be true, then it is too good to be true !
Here are the applicable signs near where your parked: -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/gt6hzfi9g9TRUyMF6
Sign on the left with the arrow indicates taxi parking only.
Here are the entry signs on Silverwell Street: -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/gt6hzfi9g9TRUyMF6
so what route did you take to get to where you parked ?
#Post#: 105185--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: January 9, 2026, 6:24 am
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--- Quote from: Incandescent link ---
>
> Here are the entry signs on Silverwell Street: -
>
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/gt6hzfi9g9TRUyMF6
> so what route did you take to get to where you parked ?
>
--- End Quote ---
Think you've included the wrong link there -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbCJfjjpSLP4m4aH8
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbCJfjjpSLP4m4aH8
#Post#: 105192--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: SteveinBolton
Date: January 9, 2026, 7:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hi Incandescent,
Yes I entered via Silverwell street, as Churchgate is one-way
this is the only route.
So I guess the fine stands as it is? Concerning the first letter
that I never received, do Bolton Council only have to prove they
sent it and it maybe got lost in the post?
#Post#: 105211--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: January 9, 2026, 8:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: DWMB2 link ---
>
> [quote author=Incandescent link=topic=9426.msg105184#msg105184
date=1767961060]
> Here are the entry signs on Silverwell Street: -
>
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/gt6hzfi9g9TRUyMF6
> so what route did you take to get to where you parked ?
>
--- End Quote ---
Think you've included the wrong link there -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbCJfjjpSLP4m4aH8
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbCJfjjpSLP4m4aH8
[/quote]
Oh dear, yes, you're right ! I think I meant to post two links,
but didn't and forgot I hadn't captured the Silverwell Street
view. Anyway the right link is now there. As far as I can see,
the zone is just Churchgate. I can't see a robust appeal
argument, I'm afraid.
#Post#: 105225--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: SteveinBolton
Date: January 9, 2026, 9:38 am
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Hi Incandescent,
No problem, thanks for your time anyway.
#Post#: 105228--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: January 9, 2026, 9:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
You would have been served with a windscreen PCN initially. Are
there ant pics online?
You can make polite reps asking to settle at discount saying you
didn't find a PCN on your car.
Restricted parking zones are often used in towns to reduce
unsightly parking sign/line clutter. Here the entry sign puts
you on notice that it's a 24/7 no waiting/loading zone except in
signed bays, which in RPZs are often just a change of road
surface, but must be signed.
#Post#: 105229--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: Phantomcrusader
Date: January 9, 2026, 10:23 am
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[left]The restricted zone entry sign is not prescribed as the
lower panel contains the word ”taxis”. See Part 4 in the regs
HTML https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/362/schedule/5/made<br
/>where there is no mention of the word”taxis”. Also, the small
yellow sign near to where you parked is not prescribed for use
in a restricted zone since it also contains the word”taxis”. See
Part 3 item 4 in the regs
HTML https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/362/schedule/4/made<br
/>where “taxis” is not a permitted variant.[/left]
[left]In summary, your challenge is[/left]
[left]There was nothing about the feature of the carriageway,
whether by marked lines or a change in surface colour/texture to
bring to my attention that the location was a taxi rank and
after researching it has come to my attention that the “taxis”
element on the lower panel of the restricted zone entry sign is
not prescribed under Schedule 5, Part 4 of the TSRGD 2016 and
that the use of the word “taxis” on the upright yellow sign near
to where I parked, is not prescribed under Schedule 4, Part 3
Item 4. Therefore the Council has placed unlawful signage. Had
the Council followed the law and signed the taxi rank in
accordance with the TSRGD 2016 the contravention could have been
avoided. The statutory guidance issued by the secretary of state
instructs the following:[/left]
[left]"Authorities should not issue [abbr="penalty charge
notices"]PCNs[/abbr] when traffic signs or road markings are
incorrect, missing or not in accordance with the [abbr="Traffic
Regulation Order"]TRO[/abbr]. These circumstances may make the
order unenforceable. If a representation against a
[abbr="penalty charge notice"]PCN[/abbr] shows that a traffic
sign or road marking was defective, the authority should accept
the representation because the adjudicator is likely to uphold
any appeal."[/left]
Therefore, as I have demonstrated the taxi rank signage is not
prescribed and correct, I trust the Council will have regard to
the guidance as it is duty bound to do and cancel the penalty
charge.
Furthermore, the contravention description of “Parked on a taxi
rank” is no longer prescribed. The correct wording in the
circumstances relating to this PCN is “waiting on a taxi rank”
as prescribed by the statutory guidance issued by the secretary
of state under Annex B: Contravention codes for civil parking
enforcement, England-wide. By failing to adhere to the guidance
the Council has once again shown disregard and committed a
procedural impropriety requiring the penalty to be cancelled.
#Post#: 105234--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: SteveinBolton
Date: January 9, 2026, 10:42 am
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[member=2249]stamfordman[/member],
There was definitely no windscreen PCN, the first I heard was
from the letter dated 06/01/2026. There were pics online via
HTML https://bolton.zatappeal.com
which I was able to view on
Wednesday 07/012026, but now when I put the PCN number and VIN
in, I get "Unfortunately you are unable to appeal this charge at
this time", strange.
[member=904]Phantomcrusader[/member],
Many thanks for that, it's an option I could try if I manage to
get back on to the Bolton Council appeals website. I'll check on
Monday.
#Post#: 105279--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bolton, parked on a taxi rank, Churchgate, no white or
yellow line markings
DIR By: Phantomcrusader
Date: January 9, 2026, 3:13 pm
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In my experience no Council will ever hold their hands up and
admit they got something wrong.You have to bear in mind that the
people who read your appeal are just pen pushers and not very
knowledgeable. For example. They cannot even get the
contravention description correct. It should read as "waiting on
a taxi rank" for code 45. See the Govt guidance they are obliged
to follow
HTML https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-enforcement-of-parking-contraventions/guidance-for-local-authorities-on-enforcing-parking-restrictions#annex-b-contravention-codes-for-civil-parking-enforcement-england-wide.<br
/>"Parking on a taxi rank" is outdated and no longer the correct
wording.This is another angle and I've added it to what I
previously wrote. If I am wrong in my posts, others on here
would say so.
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