Hi guys,

I was issued a PCN on Friday at 18:35 when I was helping a friend to unload some small units to his house in Stratford North West London (Newham Council, London).

It appears that they've recently introduced a restriction on parking on extended areas of Stratford during events taking place at Olympic Stadium.

Usually the parking after 18:30 applies in this residential area and as I also researched now, I found that during events at Stadium the parking is only after 21:00.

I am very apprehensive to stop the vehicle to unload anywhere I go and on this occasion I was completely unaware of the events taking place.

On this occasion, at 18:29 me and my friend moved really quickly three small units in the house.

At 18:37 when we returned to the vehicle a civil enforcement officer was already in process of issuing the penalty.

I do not have much evidence, but my friend took a picture which can show that 18:39 we were still 'debating' the unfairness of being struck so quickly.

I understand that stationing and unloading a vehicle should be of at least 10 minutes. Hence even from the time that the ticket show 'time of observing: 18:29' and the time when my friend took the picture at 18:39 there are strictly 10 minutes.

I've read and read the webpages of Newham Council to find out whether they have some SPECIAL grace period and I could not find anything.

I am very upset that I can't even have a small delivery and this council is charging you immediately.

From those of you more knowledgeable, please let me know if the law has changed to less than 10 minutes and if I were to make an appeal do I stand any grounds to challenge the time period.

This is a case of 7 minutes during we unload a vehicle in which time the officer has issued a ticket.

I welcome your opinions and so glad to find you exist!

Gia

The grace period does not apply in your instance

Thank you for your reply.

How are you able to offload furniture to your house if you can't stop the vehicle in front of your house for 5 minutes?

What's the exact location?

Thank you for your reply.

 

How are you able to offload furniture to your house if you can't stop the vehicle in front of your house for 5 minutes?

Nobody said you cannot unload for 5 minutes,

you can park all day if thats how long it takes

but sadly with Council parking the onus is on you to prove thats what you were doing.

The Council will probably reject your representation,

most have an unofficial policy of rejecting all informal representations

so you may have to keep going to the formal appeal stage.

Write in the first instance with proof of residency for the house owner and a letter explaining why it took the time it did to unload

bearing in mind loading has to be continual so don't say anything stupid like you stopped for a cuppa or anything other than loading,

explain the nature and bulkiness of the goods.

If they reject come back with the letter.