Parking fine help please :)

Jeff3

This is my first post - please help.

I parked in the market square in Belper (Derbyshire) last Friday afternoon. I have parked there the last 8 times I have visited Belper without any problem, being told by a local that it was free to park there.

This time I got a parking ticket - details: Park Smarter (pre-printed header) - issued by Amber Valley Borough Council (agent for Derbyshire Councty Council). Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours.

I was not trying to pull a fast one - I always look around and can't see there is anything there to tell me I can't park there. Other vehicles parking there had not got tickets. It was not on a street as such - it is in the area where stalls are on market day. Fine is £70 reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thank you - Jeff

peter_the_piper

pepipoo.com is the place to go for help with council tickets.
Copy both sides of paperwork rec'd plus a google street view of the area.

Marktheshark

What is the ticket called Penalty charge notice or parking charge notice and does it say Traffic management act 2004.

Tilt

Is this the location?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0234461,-1.4789326,3a,75y,111.49h,86.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sm3ewJ-7xGXi-nSWyIYuDKw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Jeff3

Yes, that is the exact location - I parked next to the monument (where the vehicle is on google is) - like I always have done.

Jeff3

Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is the heading.

Yes, it does say "Traffic Management Act 2004"

Thanks, Jeff

Tilt

Jeff3 wrote: »

Yes, that is the exact location - I parked next to the monument (where the vehicle is on google is) - like I always have done.

The signs state that it's a restricted parking zone unless parked in a 'signed bay'. Were you parked in one of the 'signed bays'? I mus admit that I cannot see any signed bays on street view.

Jeff3

No, I wasn't parked in a signed bay - there are a few signed bays in the area, nearer to the main road (they may not show up on google maps.

Does that mean I have to pay it?

I would like to thank you for your help

jeff

Tilt

Jeff3 wrote: »

No, I wasn't parked in a signed bay - there are a few signed bays in the area, nearer to the main road (they may not show up on google maps.

Does that mean I have to pay it?

I would like to thank you for your help

jeff

Unless you have got grounds to appeal then basically yes. I've had a look around on street view and it appears the signs are compliant.

Having said that you could always appeal within the 14 days by pleading ignorance and that you are unfamiliar with the area. You never know, they may cancel it. As long as you do it within the discounted period, all you can loose is the price of a stamp.

Coupon-mad

Jeff3 wrote: »

No, I wasn't parked in a signed bay - there are a few signed bays in the area, nearer to the main road (they may not show up on google maps.

Does that mean I have to pay it?

I would like to thank you for your help

jeff

No, we are not saying just pay...you have already been given the name of pepipoo forum* who are the Council ticket appeal experts. Almost every case has an appeal angle so ask them but do NOT post there without pics of both sides of the PCN.

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

Don't post without pics of the PCN both sides (I always say that twice because people post and ignore it then wonder why pepipoo haven't replied...).

Jeff3

Absolutely brilliant - I thank you for your help and wise logic

Jeff