District Enforcement- Riddlesdown common

vj8in

Type your messageHi,
The Driver entered Riddlesdown common in order to park. It started raining when they drove in forcing the stay inside the car for about 10 minutes
The presence of a ticketed system was only realised when the rain stopped and we were out of the car. The signs were difficult to read coming in and also lack of lighting combined with a light rain prevented easy viewing from inside the car.
When it was decided to park and procure ticket, a few men walked in and proceeded to play football in the car park. After trying to reason with them to leave and being unable to convince them to leave,  We decided at that point that it wasn't worth parking inside the commons carpark as any damage to the car would have coated me hundreds of pounds.  I proceeded to leave and park on the streets adjacent to the  commons car park. We can provide evidence as we met another parent who actually had parked there before us.
I have now been sent a Invoice to NTK for payment by car parking company. I rang up the commons ranger team and they felt they would not be able to help. Apparently I must have overstayed their grace period.
Could somebody help to check  if there are any ways for me avoid this fine. Have attached some pictures for reference.
What is the best defence for appeal?

Thanks,

vj8in

Updated pics

KeithP

Might be worth you reading the thread by @farthingdownswalker entitled Defence - District Enforcement.

His thread was about Farthing Downs which, like Ribblesdown Common, appears to be owned/managed by the City of London Corporation.

Sadly we have no conclusion to that Farthing Downs episode but an interesting discussion about The City of London's authority to run car parks nevertheless.

Coupon-mad

Ah the infamous tiny white text on sludge brown signs.  IMPOSSIBLE to read and agree to a contract. No canny Judge would fall for that!

What a clever ruse by the ex-Copper who runs DE.  The IPC must be so proud...audited signs...what in-person 'site audit' would that be then?!

Just ignore them and all the £140 demands that follow. Horrific intimidation. IGNORE IT.

Come back and join us for the PUBLIC CONSULTATION in August please.  We need to finally push to get the new Code of Practice over the line for 2024.

Don't miss your one chance to change the law to stop sharks like this with their little game of opaque signs then adding extortionate £70 fake DRA 'fees' in top when robust, sensible people smell a rat and don't come to heel.

You realise you can park on street for free? I know that common; a relative lives there(ish).

.

vj8in

Coupon-mad said:

Ah the infamous tiny white text on sludge brown signs.  IMPOSSIBLE to read and agree to a contract. No canny Judge would fall for that!

What a clever ruse by the ex-Copper who runs DE.  The IPC must be so proud...audited signs...what in-person 'site audit' would that be then?!

Just ignore them and all the £140 demands that follow. Horrific intimidation. IGNORE IT.

Come back and join us for the PUBLIC CONSULTATION in August please.  We need to finally push to get the new Code of Practice over the line for 2024.

Don't miss your one chance to change the law to stop sharks like this with their little game of opaque signs then adding extortionate £70 fake DRA 'fees' in top when robust, sensible people smell a rat and don't come to heel.

You realise you can park on street for free? I know that common; a relative lives there(ish).

.

Didn't expect a public commons to be charged at 4 pm on Sunday When the entire surrounding is free to park. Unfortunately the rain didn't help nor was there a large enough notice to say ANPR usage for car park. Whats would you suggest is the best way to appeal the charge now?

vj8in

KeithP said:

Might be worth you reading the thread by @farthingdownswalker entitled Defence - District Enforcement.

His thread was about Farthing Downs which, like Ribblesdown Common, appears to be owned/managed by the City of London Corporation.

Sadly we have no conclusion to that Farthing Downs episode but an interesting discussion about The City of London's authority to run car parks nevertheless.

I did read that, but it seemed to start at CCj point rather than appeal point. And as you say no conclusion. 

Coupon-mad

What would you suggest is the best way to appeal the charge now?

If appealing was anything better than futile (to the reportedly useless kangaroo court of the outgoing IAS) I'd have told you to appeal.

Don't.

Please re-read my advice above and stop thinking about appealing as if it's a real fine. 

vj8in

Thank you to both of you. I phoned up the park office and managed to speak to the Head Ranger who agreed my mitigating reasons and decided to cancel the parking charge.

Coupon-mad

vj8in said:

Thank you to both of you. I phoned up the park office and managed to speak to the Head Ranger who agreed my mitigating reasons and decided to cancel the parking charge.

Fantastic! Plan A strikes again!  Nicely done.

And please come back here in August to join us in changing the law.  It's taken 5 years of work.

This isn't a petition or similar 'pie in the sky' stuff.

It is nearly there.  I am heavily involved. The law is ready to go in 2024 to stop the greediest excesses in parking charges and fake 'fees'.

Read and bookmark the top 'sticky' thread by MSE_JC and you'll see fro the 2022 replies what I mean.  Some PPCs (with more money than consumer fairness genes) legally blocked the new statutory Code of Practice in 2022.

...and we can now finally push it over the line in August when the DLUHC publish the final Public Consultation.

We need you!

...and your driving relatives!

We will stop this happening again.  

Statutory regulation is almost here.

Just needs consumer voices.  The DLUHC will especially want to hear from motorists.

vj8in

Coupon-mad said:

vj8in said:

Thank you to both of you. I phoned up the park office and managed to speak to the Head Ranger who agreed my mitigating reasons and decided to cancel the parking charge.

Fantastic! Plan A strikes again!  Nicely done.

And please come back here in August to join us in changing the law.  It's taken 5 years of work.

This isn't a petition or similar 'pie in the sky' stuff.

It is nearly there.  I am heavily involved. The law is ready to go in 2024 to stop the greediest excesses in parking charges and fake 'fees'.

Read and bookmark the top 'sticky' thread by MSE_JC and you'll see fro the 2022 replies what I mean.  Some PPCs (with more money than consumer fairness genes) legally blocked the new statutory Code of Practice in 2022.

...and we can now finally push it over the line in August when the DLUHC publish the final Public Consultation.

We need you!

...and your driving relatives!

We will stop this happening again.  

Statutory regulation is almost here.

Just needs consumer voices.  The DLUHC will especially want to hear from motorists.

You are all doing a fantastic job. I'll check the sticky and ensure support all along.