Forum Topic

Increased cost of a PCN

Just wonder if anyone else has been made aware of the increase in the parking ticket fines in Hounslow? I got a ticket for overstaying my time by five minutes at the Brentford Leisure Centre and was asked to pay £60 or the reduced amount of £30 within 14 days. However, a few weeks ago I got another ticket for parking on a single yellow line on a Saturday afternoon and the PCN was for £100 or a reduced rate of £50 if paid in 14 days. When I challenged it I got the following response."In response to your comments on differential parking penalties I can advise that the scheme was introduced following an extensive consultation with the public, motoring organisations and other interested parties carried out last year by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL).The levels of penalties were agreed following extensive consultation by London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee. They were also agreed by the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State. I am therefore unable to allow you to pay the lower level charge.It is London Councils' policy that the penalties can only be set at a minimum level to act as a deterrent - making people think twice about parking in contravention of the parking regulations. Before the two-tier system was introduced on 1 July 2007 the last time the penalty levels were increased in London was on April 1, 2003."My question is has anyone been made aware of the increased charges? Maybe I was caught in some sort of vortex because I certainly have not seen hide nor hair of this new charge.

Ruby Almeida ● 6315d13 Comments

Parking is not allowed on ANY pavement in Greater London unless signs indicate that it is allowed.  That has been the case for a number of years.  See rule 244 of the Highway Code.

Richard Jennings ● 6309d

It was in Zone A south of the Broadway Centre at about 8.45pm.  We looked to see if the lines were double yellow -they weren't - and presumed that single yellow with no sign beside them at that time would be OK. Wrong."Double yellow lines throughout the London Borough of Ealing are ‘Not at any Time’ this means you can never park or load/unload on a double yellow line."This sentence also gives the impression that each local Council can pick and choose how to interpret the restrictions. Can this be right?  Or is this something that has now altered and not been changed on the website?This is also interesting:  http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/council/consultations/current_consultations/_parking_code/index.html

Philippa Bond ● 6310d

Hi Richard,What is the position on cars parking on pavements? In the past, in fact for years church goers used to park on the wide pavement under the M4 outside St. John the Evangelist Church on Boston Park Road on a Sunday. All of a sudden those very same cars have been getting parking tickets. I need to check but I do not think that any warning signs have been put up stating that no parking is allowed on those pavements. I know that years ago a similar situation was the case outside West Middlesex Hospital but that then became Residents Parking bays. I guess what I am wondering is, are pavements at any point deemed as possible parking spaces if they are not causing an obstruction to pedestrians. I assume not. So I wonder why for all those years parking on those pavements was ignored by the Council, and why the parking restrictions have suddenly come into force now, and that too on a Sunday.

Ruby Almeida ● 6311d

"LBE now have some info re all these markings and signs on their website."I've just had a look at their "Parking Restrictions" document which gives examples of some of the road markings and signs concerning parking.  Most of it is accurate, and more so than some of the markings they put on the roads!  There is one quite serious error, though.  Against the diagram of a double yellow line it says "Double yellow lines throughout the London Borough of Ealing are ‘Not at any Time’ this means you can never park or load/unload on a double yellow line."  In fact, a double yellow line means that you can never park there, but loading/unloading is permitted unless there are also loading restrictions indicated by "No loading" signs and kerb markings.

Richard Jennings ● 6311d

"We got caught by a single yellow in a CPZ that continued until 11pm only at the weekend"That's unusual.  Where was this?  Were the signs adequate and visible?  I persuaded Westminster to cancel a PCN some years ago when the extended hours in a residents' bay were indicated by a very high sign obscured by tree foliage.

Richard Jennings ● 6311d

We got caught by a single yellow in a CPZ that continued until 11pm only at the weekend when going out for a meal recently.  Sort of spoilt the evening.  If its going to be difficult to do just won't bother in future, it'll be home for baked beans on toast. Of course if the signs aren't sufficient or the markings incorrect or if they use the wrong PCN forms etc then you can happily appeal.

Philippa Bond ● 6311d

Wilko Philippa. Inevitably I shall be wise after the event. Just a killer to get two in the space of weeks and that too after avoiding them for oh so long.

Ruby Almeida ● 6311d

You need to be particularly careful with CPZs.  Their times vary and any yellow single lines within these zones aren't necessarily the usual free parking after 6.30pm and on Sundays or whatever used to seem to be usual.LBE now have some info re all these markings and signs on their website. I don't know about LBH.  I'm sure Richard Jennings knows whether the info is there and correct etc!!

Philippa Bond ● 6311d

The two-tier penalties were introduced in July 2007.  The BBC report issued then is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6259300.stm

Richard Jennings ● 6311d

Hi Philippa,Thanks for that information. I shall look it up when I get a chance. Always glad to be pointed in the right direction in terms of information about where, when and how our lives are effected by circumstances beyond our remit or control.

Ruby Almeida ● 6311d

There has been more than one type of ticket for a long time.  I have hear it talked about on national radio.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7559673.stmWe have such a choice of media now that it is much more difficult for Councils or Governments to communicate with us in our chosen one.

Philippa Bond ● 6311d

Hi Colin,An interesting though irrelevant question which is a propos to nothing that I put in my post.  I was not questioning the merits of getting a ticket (in fact I paid it). I, in fact, had challenged the differentials in the tarrifs within the borough. I am merely asking people on the Forum if they know about the increased level of the fine. I was also wondering whether the Council had taken due care and given enough notice, if any at all, to inform the public about its intention to increase the tarrif for the PCNs.

Ruby Almeida ● 6315d

Would you not have parked there if you knew you would be charged £50 instead of £30?

Colin Murphy ● 6315d