Loading bay?

Ames

Hi all, I got a PCN today from Sheffield council (it was a traffic warden one not a police one).

I parked in what I thought was a normal parking bay, clearly displaying my blue badge and timer. When I came back there was a ticket. When I looked around, there was a high sign at the other end of the bay saying loading only. All of the other bays on the street were parking ones, and when I parked there there were two other cars parked in it. There were no signs on the ground saying what the bay was.

I know I should have checked the signs, and so it's all my fault. But I'm on benefits and £35 is a lot of money to me. Do I have grounds for appeal or not?

Also should say after reading Martin's article, that it was my first offence in that town, I don't know the area well, and I'd phoned the council for advice on what streets I could park in earlier in the morning.

sarahg1969

Post up the ticket (as per the sticky on the front of the board) and someone will take a look at it.

Ames

I can't, I don't have a scanner or know how to. I could type it out?

Ames

Ok, it says

PCN Number: **********
Served on 06/07/2009
By Civil Enforcement Officer ***
who had reason to believe that the following contravention had occurred and that a penalty charge is now payable

25 - Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading

Date of contravention 06/07/2009

Time 15:44

Location, car etc

Observed from 15:37 to 15:44

Then the stuff about how much to pay etc.

I hope that's all you need to know, if not let me know and I'll give more details.

sarahg1969

You need to tell us every word on the front. The wording matters.

You need to tell us what the back says too. It is just as important.

Ames

Sheffield City Council

PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE (PCN)

The Traffic Management Act 2004 s78 Civil enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007, Civil Enforcement Contraventions (England) Representations and Appeals Regulations 2007

PCN Number FD********

Served on 06/07/2009

By Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) ***

who had reason to believe that the following contravention had occurred and that a penalty charge is now payable

25 - PARKED IN A LOADING PLACE DURING RESTRICTED HOURS WITHOUT LOADING

Date of contravention 06/07/2009

Time 15:44

Location: Norfolk Street

Vehicle Registration No. *******

Make: CITROEN

Colour: BLUE

Tax disc: ********** Expiry 31/07/2009

Observed from: 15:37 To: 15:44

P&D Tkt No. Expiry Time:

A penalty charge of £70 is now payable and must be paid not later than the last day of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which this PCN was served.

The penalty charge will be reduced by a discount of 50% to £35 if it is paid not later than the last day of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which this PCN was served
SEE REVERSE FOR
How to pay
How to challenge this PCN
What happens if no payment is made

Perforation then:

PAYMENT SLIP
PCN No: **********

Served on 06/07/2009 At 15:44

Vehicle reg *******

Contravention PARKED IN A LOADING PLACE DURING RESTRICTED HOURS WITHOUT LOADING

Contravention Code 25

The Penalty Charge is £70 or £35 if paid not later than the last day of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which this PCN was served.

If payment is made by post, please detach this slip, complete the details on the reverse and return it with your payment.

ON THE BACK:

How to pay
By telephone Credit / debit card payments only. Automated payment line **** *** **** (24 hours / 7 days a week) Have vehicle details and PCN number ready.
Online at https://www.sheffield.gov.uk Follow the links from 'Payments'
By post using the payment slip below to: Sheffield City Council, Parking Services PO Box 3830, Sheffield, S19AQ. Allow 2 working days for 1st class post and 5 working days for 2nd class.
In person at First Point, Howden House, Union St. Sheffield S12SH (Mon to Fri 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m)

If you believe that the penalty should not be paid and wish to challenge this PCN
Write to the Parking Services, PO Box 3830, Sheffield S1 9AQ or
E-mail parkingsesrvices@sheffield.gov.uk

Please quote the PCN Number, the vehicle registration number and your address in all contacts.
Details of the Council's policy and approach to challenges can be found at https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/parkingpcn or seen at the Council's offices - all cases will be considered on their individual circumstances. If you challenge this PCN within 14 days and the challenge is rejected, the council will usually offer the 14-day discount period.

If the Penalty Charge is not paid or challenged

If the penalty charge is not paid on or before the end of the 28 day period as specified on the front of this notice or successfully challenged, the Council may serve a Notice To Owner (NtO) on the owner of the vehicle requiring payment of the penalty charge. The owner can then make representations to the Council and may appeal to an independent adjudicator if those representations are rejected. The NtO will contain instructions for doing this. if you challenge this PCN but the Council issues a NtO anyway, the owner must follow the instructions on the NtO.
Further information about Civil Parking Enforcement (including PCN's and NtO's) is available online at https://www.patrol-uk.info or in a leaflet available from the council.

Perforations

Payment slip

If you wish to pay by cheque or postal order, please complete your details before returning this slip with your payment to the above postal address.

Please make cheques payable to Sheffield City Council and write the PCN number on the reverse.

Name
Address

Postcode

If you would like a receipt please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.


Phew, that's everything! The front also had Sheffield City Council repeating on the background.

Ames

After reading a couple of things online, I should probably say that the bay was set back from the road, and there were no signs on the floor, no yellow lines or anything.

flyingscotno1

Ames wrote: »

Hi all, I got a PCN today from Sheffield council (it was a traffic warden one not a police one).

I parked in what I thought was a normal parking bay, clearly displaying my blue badge and timer. When I came back there was a ticket. When I looked around, there was a high sign at the other end of the bay saying loading only. All of the other bays on the street were parking ones, and when I parked there there were two other cars parked in it. There were no signs on the ground saying what the bay was.

I know I should have checked the signs, and so it's all my fault. But I'm on benefits and £35 is a lot of money to me. Do I have grounds for appeal or not?

Also should say after reading Martin's article, that it was my first offence in that town, I don't know the area well, and I'd phoned the council for advice on what streets I could park in earlier in the morning.

I think the bay should also have LOADING ONLY in paint on the ground.

Ames

Hi, I'm really sorry to bump this up but I want to get it sorted quickly, my health fluctuates and I don't want to end up bedridden and unable to deal with this in time. I found this letter through pepipoo but my problems the negative of it - the sign was there but not the line markings. From what I've been able to find out, the line markings are a legal requirement, so I have grounds for appeal?

http://web.mac.com/rmbscarb/iWeb/rmbconsulting/Making%20a%20challenge.html

flyingscotno1

Ames wrote: »

Hi, I'm really sorry to bump this up but I want to get it sorted quickly, my health fluctuates and I don't want to end up bedridden and unable to deal with this in time. I found this letter through pepipoo but my problems the negative of it - the sign was there but not the line markings. From what I've been able to find out, the line markings are a legal requirement, so I have grounds for appeal?

http://web.mac.com/rmbscarb/iWeb/rmbconsulting/Making%20a%20challenge.html

I think the sign may be enough reading up. It mentions the bay may be accompanied with the marking. I'm not an expert on loading bays and believed they had to be accompanied by both marking on the road and signs.

I'd simply write a letter to the council appealing it and stating honestly that you were a blue badge holder, didn't realise it was a loading bay, there were no loading markings on the carraigeway and there was only one sign at the other end of they bay not in the centre or at both change-over points. If you have photos (if possible) they are great too.

It is worth a sheet of A4 and a stamp- if it doesn't work out so be it!