Council windscreen ticket next step??

andrewf_2

Hi there


Yesterday evening I returned to my car to discover a windscreen ticket from the local council.


I'm unsure now of the next best step to follow as I'm not even sure why they have issued it.


To clarify the reason and the location of the parking..


I was parked in a little offshoot road from a main two lane road. This offshoot is one of those that lead nowhere but get created towards 'wasteland' ready for future housing.


So its about 3 car widths wide and two car lengths deep. It has no signs up and no road markings. There are faint double yellow lines on the main road that cross it, however I cannot see that these affect this offshoot.


I rather presumed that if they did then that would surely mean you could technically put yellow lines across the entrance to a housing estate and say the whole estate was governed by it!!


I was late and had seen other cars park there before so did so. There was no one else parked there at this time..in hindsight that makes me wonder whether the council targeted them using the same reason the day before!!


One side of this road is heavily overgrown with grass, hedging and a tree so you cannot park right against the kerb. I was however parked right against the back kerb and obviously as it doesn't go anywhere I was not blocking any access or exit.


I do not know if anyone else parked alongside me at some point.


Judging from the PCN reason, they have not charged me for the lines or for parking restrictions but rather for not parking right against the kerb.


PCN says ...CEO had reason to believe...26 parked in a special enforcement area more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place.


So can we clarify what special enforcement area is? Does it just mean a road as I presumed that this is still a road even if a very short one?


Also if they have tried to be clever and use the distance from the kerb to charge me, do they have a case or am I covered by not causing an access issue or the kerb edge being overgrown and therefore unable to park right next to it?


I am also presuming that they mean the kerb on this offshoot and not from the main road?


Finally should I appeal now, once I know how, or wait as the PCN does say...


if not paid on or before ...or successfully challenged...council MAY serve Notice to Owner....the owner can then make representations...


I would presume waiting for this would remove the chance for a reduced payment?


All in all I cant see that I've parked incorrectly and I think that the council officer has used this charge regarding the 50 cm as a way to try and get me for not parking in their pay zones!


I was going to phone their enquiry line to ask for further info and clarify what the charge relates to exactly, as in which location the 50cm and enquire about photos (which I presume they must have) rather than actually appealing however decided to check here first



Thanks in advance for your time and help.

Dee140157

Sorry, but your next step is to go over to pepipoo.com where they are the experts on council PCNs. You advice will be to appeal.
Post the information there with copies both sides of the notice.
You will get good advice. This forum deals with private parking tickets.

Coupon-mad

Yep, post here but NOT without pics of the PCN (both sides, all small print):

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

They help almost everyone win their appeals to Councils. I would NOT phone; you need a paper trail.

The_Deep

You (sic) advice will be to appeal.

Or, if they are bang to rights, pay up. It is only £30 quid and the money goes a good cause.

andrewf_2

Ok thanks all