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Advice for appealing to PTAS

I'm looking for advice on pursuing an appeal after the council have turned down my initial appeal.

Background: My local council is Camden and they send out email alerts in advance of parking suspensions. For standard bays these include the range of house numbers effected by the suspension. However for metered bays the only information given is 'Please refer to nominated street signs or contact parking suspensions team on 020 7974 6321, Suspension start date: 24/11/2010, Suspension end date: 24/11/2010, Reason for suspension: Tree Works'

I am disabled using a blue badge and as such I'm allowed to use the metered bay to park. I do this frequently as this is outside my address. I monitor the emails to check whether any metered bay alerts are included for my street, but then have to check myself whether there is a sign up for my bay (i.e. there are others in the street).

On this occasion, the reason for suspension was given as 'Tree works' and as there are no trees anywhere near this bay, I assumed it had to be another metered bay in the street. I often don't go out of the house for days and even then rarely past the lamppost with the suspension street sign. The contact phone number they give for checking is wrong (have pointed this out on previous appeals and it still hasn't been corrected).

The council have turned down my appeal and I feel strongly that I was misled by the fact they included Tree Works as the reason for suspension (it was not). I also feel that the emails should allow for blue badge holders not to be disadvantaged because the emails do not provide details on which metered bays are suspended. All normal bays have the street numbers specified.

I have pointed this out to the council for years now and no changes have been made (even to correct the phone number as promised). I now wish to take this further but looking for a bit of advice as to the grounds of appeal.

Sorry for the long post.
Grateful for any advice :)
Just in case you were wondering (some have)..... I'm a woman!

Comments

  • Fergie76
    Fergie76 Posts: 2,293 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 30 December 2010 at 8:36PM
    Post this on pepipoo they get most people off Council PCN's.

    Be prepared to post a copy of PCN, with all personal details blanked out.
  • Scamden and most London councils usually get the suspension signs wrong as well as their tickets.I think Fergies advice is sound about pepipoo.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 140,235 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yep, keep appealing, I reckon an adjudicator will be on your side here. Most people who get help from pepipoo posters get off Council PCNs almost every time.

    Here's the link to the right parking board over there:

    http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

    Let us know when you win! The only risk you are taking is that if PATAS don't find in your favour then you would then have to pay the full (non-discounted) fine. No costs, no other hassle, and the odds are in your favour. Get pepipoo advice and formally appeal once you have the Notice to Owner.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of this/any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • Paranoid
    Paranoid Posts: 149 Forumite
    I've appealed two council parking tickets and won both times. The second time the parking manager and a support lady attended to oppose the appeal, but they only projected an image of incompetence.

    I believe appeals adjudicators are readily sympathetic to appeals with substance.

    Good luck!
  • trisontana
    trisontana Posts: 9,472 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Paranoid wrote: »
    I've appealed two council parking tickets and won both times. The second time the parking manager and a support lady attended to oppose the appeal, but they only projected an image of incompetence.

    I believe appeals adjudicators are readily sympathetic to appeals with substance.

    Good luck!

    This highlights once again the difference between council and private parking issues. In the former you have a good chance of winning your appeal if you have a sound case. In the case of PPCs it's always "the computer says no".
    What part of "A whop bop-a-lu a whop bam boo" don't you understand?
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