Loading only bay with no sign informing about restricted hours

ProTofik

Just got my first ever parking ticket, yey...

I parked on Chichester Street, Belfast city centre in a bay labelled 'Loading Only'. I wasn't sure what it means so before I left my car I had a good look around trying to find any vertical sign with restricted hours or something like this but there was nothing. Also plenty of cars parked there too so I though that it must be fine because it's Sunday. On-street parking in Belfast on Sundays is always free.

I came back to a ticket stating 'Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading'.

My question here is regarding the 'restricted hours' thing. There were no signs whatsoever. Does it automatically mean it's 24/7?

I googled a bit and found this, someone else made an official query to the DFI: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/dfi2024-0281-information-about-parking-restrictions-loading-bays-chichester-street-belfast

In their response they claim it's 24/7 and there is no law requiring them to have a sign informing about it. So my question here is, is this true? It is a council issued fine so throwing it to the bin is unfortunately not an option in this case. 

born_again

If there are no timing signs, then expect 24/7

fisherjim

There won't be any "free parking" in a loading Only bay as it isn't a parking bay and with no timings you have to assume 24 hours 7 days a week.

I think they got you there, but as this forum is mainly for private parking charges not authority fines, you might like to try FTLA they are the experts on these, but I don't see much hope:

https://www.ftla.uk

ProTofik

fisherjim said:

There won't be any "free parking" in a loading Only bay as it isn't a parking bay and with no timings you have to assume 24 hours 7 days a week.

I think they got you there, but as this forum is mainly for private parking charges not authority fines, you might like to try FTLA they are the experts on these, but I don't see much hope:

https://www.ftla.uk

Thanks, that's what I thought. I was in the wrong but I thought I would double check before paying the fine. Lesson learnt.