Don’t mention the appeals!
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 Lib Dem controlled Lambeth does not want to tell you how to appeal against your fine |
Residents receiving notification of a parking fine in the post might expect some information on how to appeal to accompany their fine. After all, this is accepted best practice for local authorities across the country. Not, however, in Lib Dem controlled Lambeth.
At this week’s council meeting Liberal Democrats, along with their Tory allies voted not to put the information on how to appeal with the parking fine notification. Labour Councillors proposed the measure when they discovered that drivers who had been wrongly ticketed were being left in the dark about their rights.
Lambeth residents are already suffering because of an over-zealous ticketing regime introduced by the Lib Dems. They signed a contract in August 2003 giving cash incentives to a private company to hand out parking tickets. Since then, there has been a flood of complaints about over-zealous ticketing and a special parking commission has recommended the removal of the incentives.
Labour Councillors suspect that the decision not to include the appeal information with fines is an attempt to protect the £8 million plus revenue the council makes from parking fines each year.
Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth's Labour Opposition, said::
“Lambeth Liberal Democrats don’t really do common sense. I was shocked to discover that the Parking Department was not making information on how to appeal accessible, which is why I made this suggestion.”
“Amazingly the Lib Dems and Tories voted to continue this underhand tactic. Given the huge increase in wrongly issued tickets since they bought in their new contract, this is clearly about protecting the money they get from fines. Parking should be about fair enforcement of rules, not making money.”
The Liberal Democrats and Tories may not want you to know what to do if you are unfairly ticketed, but we do. What to do if you are unfairly ticketed...
If you receive a Penalty Charge Notice that you feel is unfair, you can challenge it.
Providing Lambeth Council receive your challenge within 14 days, you will be given a further opportunity to pay at the discount rate if the council does not accept your challenge. If you do not pay the PCN within 28 days, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a document from the Council called a Notice to Owner explaining how to make a formal representation.
The address for appeals to Lambeth Parking is:
Lambeth Parking Services
PO Box 4525
Worthing
BN13 1XT
If your formal representation is rejected
by the Council, you can appeal to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service.
An independent adjudicator will then review your case and their decision
will be binding on both sides.
Have you been a victim of over-zealous ticketing? Let us know
about you experiences in our on-line
Parking Forum by clicking here, or complete the form below.
