Parking fine - appeal

If you think that you should not have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), or there are special reasons why it should be cancelled, you can appeal.

Before you appeal

  • We are unable to accept most challenges by telephone. Please view our reasonable adjustments policy below.
  • Please do not make payment at this stage as payment is acceptance of liability. By paying you are admitting that the ticket was right and you will therefore not be able to appeal further once you have paid.

You must challenge each case individually by inputting each unique PCN number.

To appeal, you will need:

  • your vehicle registration number
  • the PCN number listed on your parking ticket

How to appeal

Online

Visit our Parking Services site where you can also view photographic evidence relating to your PCN. You can include jpeg attachments.

You should not use this link to email us about your PCN if you have received a response to your challenge, the Statutory Notices (the statutory notices include the Notice to Owner, Charge Certificate and Order for Recovery) have already been served or the case has already been transferred to Enforcement Agents.

 Appeal a parking fine

The automated email response confirming contact using the Parking Services link states: "Thank you very much for your email. This is now being processed and the case has been placed on hold (including the discount payment amount) pending a decision, which will be emailed to you in due course. "This does not apply to cases once the statutory notices have been served as the discount payment is no longer applicable.

Write to us

Please provide as much information as you can to support your reasons why the PCN should be cancelled.

If your letter is received within 14 days of the date the PCN was issued and the challenge is rejected, the council will decide whether to re-offer the 14 day discount period, dependent upon the circumstances of the individual case.

While the Council endeavour to respond to all correspondence received with 14 days, this is not always possible. If it is not possible to respond within the 14 days and to ensure that the recipient of the PCN is not disadvantaged the discounted period is reset when a response is issued.

Please send your appeal to:

Parking Services
One Angel Square
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

Further information

​There are specific grounds on which a representation can be made and details are given on the Notice to Owner.

Our Enforcement Protocol gives further details of representations and also mitigating circumstances, and can be found on the Parking Enforcement page.

When your representation is received, an experienced Parking Investigation Officer who is employed by the council will consider it. They will decide if there are grounds to cancel the PCN. You will be notified in writing of the decision. This must be done under the statutory guidance within 56 days of receipt of the representations. Our aim is to respond within 21 days.

If your representation is rejected we will advise you on how to appeal to a Parking Adjudicator. If you decide to make a formal representation the full amount is payable.

​If you are the registered keeper of the vehicle and have made a formal representation, which has been rejected by the council, you have the right to appeal to a Parking Adjudicator.

A Parking Adjudicator is an experienced lawyer and is independent of the council. The decision of the Parking Adjudicator is final and both parties (you and the council) must adhere to the decision made.

You can choose whether to have your appeal dealt with by telephone, post, or you can attend a personal hearing with the Parking Adjudicator.

You can find out more about a Parking Adjudicator by visiting the Traffic Penalty Tribunal website.

The council is also a member of the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Adjudication Joint Committee. The Joint Committee publishes an Annual Statement of Accounts which is subject to External Audit and the arrangements for 2011/12 are available to view.

Public authorities such as a local authority, must take steps to remove the barriers you face because of your disability when they carry out their work. The Equality Act 2010 calls this the duty to make reasonable adjustments.

A local authority has a duty to make reasonable adjustments if:

  • You are disadvantaged by something because of your disability, and
  • It is reasonable to make the changes to remove the disadvantage.

What is meant by 'reasonable'

Adjustments only have to be made if it's reasonable to do so. This depends on things like:

  • your disability
  • its practicality
  • if the change you ask for would overcome the disadvantage you and other disabled people experience
  • the size of the organisation
  • the resources it would require
  • the cost of making the changes
  • if any changes have already been made

Penalty Charge Notices (parking fines)

Whilst we have a policy in place to request all challenges and representations in writing, we are aware that this is not always possible. If our officers feel (or are advised) that additional assistance is required then we will make reasonable adjustments where possible to suit your needs.

Examples of these reasonable adjustments include but not limited to:

  • A mutually convenient telephone appointment where you can dictate your challenge/representation to an officer;
  • A pre-booked face to face meeting (in exceptional circumstances) at One Angel Square, Northampton where you can dictate your challenge or representation; and
  • 3rd party liaison acting on your behalf, providing authority has been received from you, to discuss and deal with the case as your representative.

Parking permits

Whilst there is an application or renewal process in place via West Northamptonshire Council's website or by post, we are aware that this does not suit everybody and if our officers feel (or are advised) that additional assistance is required then we will look to make reasonable adjustments where possible to help you.

Examples of these reasonable adjustments include but are not limited to:

  • A mutually convenient telephone appointment where you can make your application or renewal verbally. However, the call may need to be recorded depending on your disability as the recording may need to act as your signature confirming that you agree to the terms and conditions of the scheme;
  • A pre-booked face to face meeting (in exceptional circumstances) at One Angel Square, Northampton where you can apply/renew in person. However if you are unable to provide a signature then your usual mark will need to be witnessed as your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the scheme; and
  • 3rdt party liaison acting on your behalf, providing authority has been received from you, to apply or renew your permit as your representative. We would agree in this instance a way of arranging for the terms and conditions to be signed by you as acceptance.

The local authority will cover the costs of all reasonable adjustments.

Refusing a request for reasonable adjustments

If we reject your request for an adjustment to be made, we will explain this decision to you, the factors that have been taken into account and may suggest alternatives which will be given the same level of consideration as the original request.