Another Bristol Airport VCS CN

chrisc151

Hi, 

I've read the newbie thread, and one or two similar posts regarding stopping for drop off/pick up in a restricted zone. 

The keeper is named on the document, they are also the driver.

Traffic was bumper to bumper due to temporary lights outside the airport, near the roundabout. The driver missed the entrance to the pickup spot and therefore didn't pull back in on the way round due to the traffic conditions. There are pictures which seem to indicate someone entering the vehicle while it is at complete standstill in the traffic. 

As the vehicle was stopped due to complete gridlock, is this a viable way to complain to Bristol Airport/appeal with VCS that the vehicle did not stop for the purpose of picking up/dropping off? 

Thanks for any help. 

Half_way

First of all as this is more than likely covered by bye-laws is to not mention as to who may have been driving .

 Next up try a search for "VCS airport no stopping"

chrisc151

Half_way said:

First of all as this is more than likely covered by bye-laws is to not mention as to who may have been driving .

 Next up try a search for "VCS airport no stopping"

Thanks for your response.

So the airport would be covered by bye-laws, obviously no mention to who the alleged driver was.
There are multiple threads, with varying details and it's confusing keeping up with each one! 

I'll re-read them for clarity.

Thanks for any help you're willing to give. 

Umkomaas

Forum regular @Fruitcake is the expert on Bristol Airport/VCS stopping cases and I'm sure he'll be along shortly to offer the best advice you can get to kill this off. It won't be quick, but with resilience and by following Fruity's and forum advice, you'll get there. 

Fruitcake

Before you start, I suggest you set up a throwaway email address such as gmail not linked to any other email you use.

Plan A is a complaint to the landowner (a foreign investment company who probably won't reply), the sub-contractor that manages the airport on behalf of the landowner (who will probably side with VCS), and your MP, who may or not be interested.

You should do this irrespective of the likely result.

Landowner details are on the airport website, but you will need to do an internet search to find the email addresses of their London and Toronto offices.

The sub-contractor's contact details and complaints process can also be found on the airport website.

I have found this website useful for contacting MPs and local government officials.

WriteToThem - Email your Councillor, MP, MSP, MS, MLA or London Assembly Member for free

In all your complaints, state that byelaws apply therefore the keeper cannot be held liable. Also state that VCS were recently caught lying when they stated that the airport management company considered the airport byelaws obsolete. This was found to be a lie when John Penrose MP queried this with the management company who confirmed that it was a lie, although they didn't use those words.
It was my complaint to mister Penrose (my MP) that revealed this lie. I can provide copies of the documents to you as and when appropriate, but for now just make the statement.

Only complain as the registered keeper, and only refer to the keeper and the driver. The driver did this. The keeper received the PCN


These are your starter threads. ginger_bread_man won his case that is similar to yours, in court, but sadly never provided the case number. As well as being unavoidably stopped in a traffic queue, his car was photographed outside the area where VCS are contracted to operate.

Vehicle Control Services, No stopping in a queue... — MoneySavingExpert Forum

This post from that thread includes a copy of the contract between the management company and VCS. It also includes a map of the site where VCS are, and more importantly, are not contracted to operate. Please tell or show us where your alleged contravention occurred.

Vehicle Control Services, No stopping in a queue... - Page 3 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

This is my thread where I won at the IAS stage. Here my relative's car was photographed outside the contracted area.

And so it ends - Bristol Airport IAS Appeal success - Page 8 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

This thread by Boudouche is the one where VCS lied about the byelaws.

Charge for stopping in traffic Bristol Airport — MoneySavingExpert Forum


Once you have exhausted the complaints process, appeal to VCS using the template in blue text from the NEWBIES. Do not miss the appeal deadline. 
Add to the template that:-

The vehicle was forced to stop, a situation completely outside the control of the driver, due to stationary traffic. What a passenger may or may not have done whilst the vehicle was stopped is irrelevant and again, outside the control of the driver. 
VCS is put to strict proof that the vehicle did not stop due to stationary traffic.

Airport byelaws apply because the site is not relevant as defined by the PoFA 2012. Consequently the registered keeper cannot be held liable for the charge.

Also point out that this is similar to the recent PCN where VCS lied to the motorist by stating that the airport management companies consider byelaws at the site to be obsolete, but the management company stated in written correspondence to John Penrose MP that this was not true.

Fruitcake

Umkomaas said:

Forum regular @Fruitcake is the expert on Bristol Airport/VCS stopping cases and I'm sure he'll be along shortly to offer the best advice you can get to kill this off. It won't be quick, but with resilience and by following Fruity's and forum advice, you'll get there. 

Speak his name and he shall appear. 

Half_way

As mentioned there is no requirement to name, or guess as to who may have been the driver, this is an open forum and PPCs do read it

All of these can be different people

Keeper

Registered Keeper

Driver

Owner

Hirer

The Registered keeper will have been named on the document, what is important is that you do not guess or hint as to who was driving

chrisc151

 said:

Before you start, I suggest you set up a throwaway email address such as gmail not linked to any other email you use.

Plan A is a complaint to the landowner (a foreign investment company who probably won't reply), the sub-contractor that manages the airport on behalf of the landowner (who will probably side with VCS), and your MP, who may or not be interested.

You should do this irrespective of the likely result.

Landowner details are on the airport website, but you will need to do an internet search to find the email addresses of their London and Toronto offices.

The sub-contractor's contact details and complaints process can also be found on the airport website.

I have found this website useful for contacting MPs and local government officials

In all your complaints, state that byelaws apply therefore the keeper cannot be held liable. Also state that VCS were recently caught lying when they stated that the airport management company considered the airport byelaws obsolete. This was found to be a lie when John Penrose MP queried this with the management company who confirmed that it was a lie, although they didn't use those words.
It was my complaint to mister Penrose (my MP) that revealed this lie. I can provide copies of the documents to you as and when appropriate, but for now just make the statement.

Only complain as the registered keeper, and only refer to the keeper and the driver. The driver did this. The keeper received the PCN


These are your starter threads. ginger_bread_man won his case that is similar to yours, in court, but sadly never provided the case number. As well as being unavoidably stopped in a traffic queue, his car was photographed outside the area where VCS are contracted to operate.


This post from that thread includes a copy of the contract between the management company and VCS. It also includes a map of the site where VCS are, and more importantly, are not contracted to operate. Please tell or show us where your alleged contravention occurred.

This is my thread where I won at the IAS stage. Here my relative's car was photographed outside the contracted area.


This thread by Boudouche is the one where VCS lied about the byelaws.


Once you have exhausted the complaints process, appeal to VCS using the template in blue text from the NEWBIES. Do not miss the appeal deadline. 
Add to the template that:-

The vehicle was forced to stop, a situation completely outside the control of the driver, due to stationary traffic. What a passenger may or may not have done whilst the vehicle was stopped is irrelevant and again, outside the control of the driver. 
VCS is put to strict proof that the vehicle did not stop due to stationary traffic.

Airport byelaws apply because the site is not relevant as defined by the PoFA 2012. Consequently the registered keeper cannot be held liable for the charge.

Also point out that this is similar to the recent PCN where VCS lied to the motorist by stating that the airport management companies consider byelaws at the site to be obsolete, but the management company stated in written correspondence to John Penrose MP that this was not true.

A fantastic, and comprehensive write up. You are a gem. I'll get right to work. Thanks so much!

paulstevens64

....and edit your first post, so that there is no indication as to who the driver was!!!!