Dear Hounslow Council

I’m writing to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice issued for parking in a suspended bay. I was not aware that the bay had been suspended, and suspect that it was done on very short notice, therefore not allowing me a reasonable opportunity to relocate the vehicle.

As recommended by Hounslow Council, I regularly check the bay where my vehicle is parked to ensure that no suspension is due. In fact, at the time of the PCN, the car had been parked directly opposite the entrance to our building, which meant that my wife and I both walked past the car at least twice a day on our way to and from work.

Additionally, this parking bay in question is directly visible from our kitchen window – please see the attached photograph taken Tuesday 1st December, around 7PM.

Our car was parked where the large green container now sits. The signpost on which the suspension notice was posted is also clearly visible from our window (you can see it poking up behind the container), and given that the notice is large and yellow, it contrasts highly with the wall behind it and stands out like a beacon. It seems unlikely that the notice had been posted in advance and escaped our attention.

On Sunday night (29 November), when we returned from a weekend away, we immediately checked on the car. This was the first point which we noticed the suspension notice and consequently our PCN. We immediately moved the car to a bay further down the street. We noticed that our new parking spot was also near a temporary suspension sign – however, this suspension had expired over a week prior, yet the signs were still being displayed. Residents could be excused for being confused and frustrated when notices are posted at short notice, but remain in place after their expiry.

It is my firm belief that we were not given adequate notice of the parking suspension, and hence did not have an opportunity to move the car from the suspended bays. We have attempted, in every way that we believe reasonable, to comply with local regulations, park legally and move our car to accommodate works.

I look forward to your feedback on this matter, and hope that you will look favourably upon our challenge.