UKPC - designated disabled person's parking place without displaying a valid disabled person's badge

meetzainkhan

Hi all,

I received a surprising parking charge notice today, dated 01/08, so I believe I may not have much time left to respond.

From what I can recall, I did visit the location a few weeks ago. It’s not somewhere I usually shop, but I stopped briefly as it was on my route. I quickly popped in to grab something and didn’t notice any clear signage at the time.

I’m now wondering if I may have accidentally parked in a disabled or parent-and-child space, though I genuinely don’t recall seeing any specific markings or signs — I might have completely missed them.

I've attached the notice below. Just wondering: is it worth appealing this, or should I just go ahead and pay it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Coupon-mad

I'd go and take some photos of the lack of signs at the disabled bays.  We know that at retail parks, one of PPCs' favourite tricks is to put no t&cs signs alongside disabled bays which deliberately entraps people and targets vulnerable disabled people too.  That's why these firms omit signs in certain areas IMHO.

Castle

There's a Parking charge number left showing in 3 places.

meetzainkhan

Thanks, 

From what I remember, all the disabled bays were full, and the only available space was where I ended up parking - a disabled bay at Snowhill Retail Park, Wakefield, which I mistakenly thought was a parent/child space. I’ve checked Google Street View and noticed there’s no signage directly at the disabled bays themselves, only a general UKPC sign located further away in the car park (photo attached).

Would the lack of signage at the bay itself be a valid ground for appeal under the BPA Code of Practice? As I understand it, clear and prominent signage is required, particularly for disabled bays.

I’m planning to submit a placeholder appeal before the 14-day discount window closes to freeze the rate, and then return to gather fresh, dated photos on-site to strengthen my case.

Does this sound like the right approach?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

meetzainkhan

@Castle - I have now redacted the Parking charge number.

Castle

There has to be a sign that can be read from sitting in the car; I can't see any.

meetzainkhan

Can someone please review and provide feedback on the draft I've prepared? I'd appreciate any corrections or suggestions before sending it out, as I need to submit it today to meet the 14-day deadline for freezing the charge amount during the appeal process.

Dear UK Parking Control Ltd,

I am the registered keeper of vehicle [YOUR REG] and I am appealing against the above Parking Charge Notice.

I do not accept that a parking contract was properly formed. The signage at the location does not comply with the BPA Code of Practice, specifically regarding the requirement for clear and prominent signage at or near disabled bays. At the time of the alleged parking event, no contractual terms relating to disabled bay use were clearly displayed at the bay in question.

I require the following under the rules of evidence and in line with the BPA Code of Practice:

1. A copy of the site’s signage map showing the position of all signs.

2. Copies of all photographs taken by your operative(s).

3. A copy of the contract with the landowner giving UKPC authority to operate and issue charges at this site.

This appeal is made in good faith and without prejudice to my rights under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Please confirm that the Parking Charge is placed on hold at the current discounted rate while this appeal is considered.

Yours faithfully,

Vitor

You can try a No Admission / Keeper Response letter along these lines - "Dear Sir/Madam,

I am the registered keeper of the above vehicle and I am in receipt of your Notice to Keeper dated 1 August 2025.

I cannot confirm who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged event on 30 July 2025, and I will not be naming any driver.

As you are aware, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4 allows a parking operator to pursue the registered keeper only if they have fully complied with its strict requirements. If you believe you have complied with Schedule 4, please provide a full explanation and documentary evidence of such compliance. If you cannot demonstrate this, you must confirm in writing that you will not pursue me for this charge.

For the avoidance of doubt, I make no admission as to who was driving, and no assumptions should be made.

Yours faithfully,

meetzainkhan

Thanks @Vitor

In this case, there’s a general UKPC sign further away in the car park, but nothing visible from the disabled bays. Does the BPA Code of Practice specifically require signage to be readable from the bay itself, or just “nearby”?

Would you recommend I submit the “No admission / keeper response” wording combined with signage issues in my first appeal, or keep them separate? I want to freeze the 14-day discount while I gather more evidence.

If UKPC reject my first appeal, how should I position this at POPLA — is signage absence at the bay strong enough to win there without other arguments?

In your experience, do UKPC often fold when they realise they’ve failed signage rules, or do they still try to drag people to POPLA?

meetzainkhan

Upon reviewing the online appeal, I accessed additional photos of my vehicle. However, the signage in the images is unclear/unreadable.

meetzainkhan

My Appeal

I am the registered keeper of vehicle [YOUR REG] and I am in receipt of your Notice to Keeper dated 01/08/2025.

I cannot confirm who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged parking event on 30/07/2025, and I will not be naming any driver. As you are aware, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4 allows a parking operator to pursue the registered keeper only if all of its strict requirements have been met. If you believe you have complied with Schedule 4, please provide a full explanation and documentary evidence of such compliance. If you cannot demonstrate this, you must confirm in writing that you will not pursue me for this charge.

For the avoidance of doubt, I make no admission as to who was driving, and no assumptions should be made.

Separately, I do not accept that a parking contract was properly formed. The signage at the location does not comply with the BPA Code of Practice, specifically regarding the requirement for clear and prominent signage at or near disabled bays. At the time of the alleged event, no contractual terms relating to disabled bay use were clearly displayed at the bay in question, nor could they be read from a seated position in the vehicle.

This appeal is made in good faith and without prejudice to my rights under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Please confirm that the Parking Charge is placed on hold at the current discounted rate while this appeal is considered.