Parking fine - Open View Road SW18 - Challenge or not? Post Reply

[dain777]

Hi.

I received a PCN (Code 12 "Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without either clearly displaying a valid permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place, or without payment of the parking charge") from Wandsworth council on Sat 30/04/2022.  I had parked in Open View Road SW18 that only claimed to have restrictions Monday-Friday, not on weekends.  However, below was a temporary sign attached by cable ties related to ‘event day’ parking restrictions. Have attached the image of the sign. 

https://imgur.com/TqXhJ7z

In the first instance, coming from outside the area, I genuinely did not have any idea of what the ‘event day’ was.  I only found out when I chanced upon another motorist who had also received a PCN related to the same and who explained to me that the ‘Event Day’ was related to AFC Wimbledon’s home game that day.
There was no separate sign clearly and prominently displaying the date of the event for 30 April.

How is a motorist ‘NOT LOCAL’ to the area know that an ‘Event’ is taking place if the ‘DATE’ of the event is not displayed clearly anywhere on the road?  There is just the generic ‘Event Day’ restriction sign. 

The ‘Event Day’ cannot be ascertained from the sign i.e how would I know what days are ‘Event Days’ in Wandsworth? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Would appreciate any advice and whether it would be worth challenging?  

Thanks.

[chorister]

Did you buy a ticket per the sign and if so for how long?  If it was for the maximum permitted one hour and you overstayed then you haven't a leg to stand on.

[dain777]

No didn't put a ticket - that's the whole point as it was a Saturday,  and we were not aware that it was an 'Event day'. So didn't put a ticket.

How does one know if an 'event' is taking place on a particular Saturday if the ' date '  is not displayed on the road and one is visiting in the area.

[chorister]

Given the signage did you go and look at the ticket machine?

[Denwand]

This is a huge problem on the side streets off Garratt Lane - some over a mile for Wimbledon AFC stadium.

In Magdalen Road for instance some of the restrictions apply 1.4 miles away from the stadium!

"Event Parking" signs (of a temporary type made of plasticised cardboard) were Originally placed down Magdalen Road with no further warning of where to find out what days they applied but to  two further temporary signs were erected - one outside Earlsfield station and one by allotments at the junction of Fieldview Road - giving the "next event date" .

When I asked a traffic warden he advised Googling AFC Wimbledon site to find out their fixtures! WHAT A MESS!

To make it worse disgruntled residents have torn down most of the cardboard signs including the ones that tell you the date - so now we are all in the dark!

It is ridiculous that Wandsworth Council really expected match goers to walk 1.4 miles there and back from the stadium to park their car anyway - and in Magdalen Road there is plenty of spare spaces so what was the problem?

For innocent visitors it is a money trap - for residents popping into Sainsbury's on the way back from work after 4.30pm or at weekends it is another money trap.

The council have have numerous complaints - but I KNOW what their solution will be - change parking times in our otherwise quiet and easily parkable streets from 9.30am-4.30pm to 9.30am-9.30pm permanently  - an extra FIVE HOURS of unnecessary restrictions - 7 days a week so that people returning from work WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARK .

WANDSWORTH COUNCIL: Please review the streets that will be realistically affected by match day parking and make restrictions only in those area with 1/2 mile at most - keep it on match days ONLY.. Otherwise it's a blight on the south of Wandsworth Borough!
 

[Needcoffeenow]

The event days are there on the Wandsworth council website, not that difficult to find. But I agree it’s disconcerting if you aren’t used to the system. Richmond operate a similar one for Twickenham stadium. But worth contesting with Parking Enforcement if you have photographic evidence showing how difficult it was to understand it was an event day?

[dudette]

I think it’s worth contesting. I agree with you - what the heck is an Event Day? Could be anything. They should put signs up telling people when those days are - Openview is nowhere near the stadium.

[Denwand]

Needcoffeenow wrote:
> The event days are there on the Wandsworth council website, not that
> difficult to find. But I agree it’s disconcerting if you aren’t used to the
> system. Richmond operate a similar one for Twickenham stadium. But worth
> contesting with Parking Enforcement if you have photographic evidence
> showing how difficult it was to understand it was an event day?

I see your point but a simple message on the restriction sign saying where to find the information would have been the sensible measure to take - ebven the parking warden didn't know about the website!

Raises another point - I thought wardens had to take a picture of the enforcement sign before they could issue a ticket? I know of some people who have taken parking signs down and can park with impunity and wardens can do nothing!

Where the enforcement sign AND the Event date sign have been torn down - presumably no tickets can be issued?

Also I agree with dudette  - the OP should challenge it and ask council for a photograph of the "Event Date" sign at the time - 100% sure they cannot produce it!
 

[SouthLondonDaddy]

OP, I strongly suggest you post the details of your case here http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30
which is a forum dedicated to helping motorists challenge this kind of fines.

I agree it is not immediately clear that "event day" refers to Wimbledon's football stadium, but my opinion is not worth much. Ask the experts on that forum.