Parking thread - should I take this further?

[CharlieandLolaCat]

So, not quite the usual parking thread but it comes with pics! I have received a PCN which I informally appealed and they have rejected. If I appeal through the formal route and lose I will have to pay £70 rather than the discounted amount of £35. I am torn. I totally parked in the wrong place on a thick yellow line, get that. But (and this is where I think I have grounds), I genuinely thought I had parked in the right place because of the white lines.

So essentially, when they put in the bus stop they put it in the wrong place, when they moved it they didn't black out the white lines so they have a weird box thing and if you're focussed on the lines in the space rather than against the kerb it is unclear.

The first pic is me parking in what I thought were the white lines. I got out the car and started chatting to a neighbour and actually I remember thinking that I had actually done a rubbish bit of parking and that I had wasted 2 foot of parking space - a valuable commodity on my road.

The second pic is post PCN having reversed back and shows the confusing line configuration albeit that it is clear that I parked on a yellow line.

At the end of the day, it is only £35 but it is the principle of the thing. AIBU to appeal?

[2nd picture removed by MNHQ due to numberplate being visible]

It's clearly not a parking space. It comes out way too far into the road and looks obviously like a bus stop. And the yelow line is bloody obvious. It's not faded, it's not broken. It's clear and solid.

Sorry, that’s clearly not a parking space.

I honestly don't think you have grounds for appeal. The thick yellow lines are quite obvious.
Apart from anything else, these lines are clearly not new, and you live on the road, so surely you know not to park there?

You'd lose the appeal if that photo is your evidence. You're better paying the 35 and beingdone with it.

May the £35 and move on

Ok. Shall do. I think I needed someone not on my side to say it. Still think the road markings are shit but shall give it up and pay the fine!

I think the road markings are shit and confusing too. I think I would have double checked and not parked there 🤔 but I can see why you could mistakenly do so.

I’d do some more research. Maybe you could ask on PEPIPOO There is asection on council parking fines.

I can sort of see what you mean but, objectively, there's a fuck off thick yellow line! Ah I hate parking fines. You really thought you were fine so I sympathise!

Thanks @Kyogre I'll ask on there and make a decision. I have 2 weeks to pay up if I'm going to. Not sure I have the energy to get too worked up am just annoyed and while I totally agree I parked in the wrong place I wouldn't have done if the boxes were clearer. Thank you.

Surely the giant bus stop would have given it away too?

Sorry but I think it's clearly not a space

I can see why you thought that but I’d pay the fine and chalk it up..

I can see why it hurts but I would pay the fine

I’ll go against the usual grain of people wanting to give OPs a kicking, and say that this is annoying and confusing. Yes there is a “dirty great huge yellow line” etc, but when one sees markings in a road like the white ones that are there, it’s easy to gravitate to them as if they’re the parking space you’d imagine they are.

Yes unfortunately you’ll most likely have to pay the PCN, but someone at the council/relevant body needs to be formally told and complained to that this is a nasty revenue trap and confusing, and needs clearing up and changing

Ok I agree with others it's a bus stop so think it was quite silly of you to park there .Was there a bus stop sign ?
If I appeal through the formal route and lose I will have to pay £70 rather than the discounted amount of £35. This is wrong though you could appeal but they will write back and say rejected but will let you pay the £35 , I have to pay pcns for my job and some are appealed some rejected some successful due to delivery's that are unavoidable in city centre. Anyway they hold the reduced amount while it's appeal so I always say you may as well appeal unless it's really something obvious your at fault . If you go online it will have photos of your vehicle .

It looks like a parking space. I would do what Pepipoo posters advise as they know what they're talking about, but I think you have grounds for appeal.

Looks like a parking space but you couldn't even park in that half up pavement.

Hi OP

We've removed one of the images from your opening post because a numberplate was visible.