DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer - the information in this website is simply my personal interpretation of the law.

Insufficient warning about parking suspensions

Have you been caught by a suspended bay and thought "that's strange, I don't remember getting any warning about this..."
← Suspended bay sign

...Well, it may not be your fault - it seems that Camden have been misinterpreting the law for years and regularly place insufficient advance warning notices. When people get caught by this trap they are usually towed away and incur fees of at least £200.
← Advance warning notice.

Here are some examples of the kind of situation where Camden have placed too few signs.

Example 1. Nearer to unmarked post.

Possibly the most common type of error Camden make is where there is a stretch of road which is due to be suspended which runs close up to but does not quite include a residents bay signpost. Camden regularly omit putting an advance warning notice on such a post. The net result of this is that a resident can park in a location almost directly underneath a completely unmarked residents bay sign only to find themselves towed away when a suspension comes into force.

Example 2. Round a bend.

Sometimes Camden will place an advance warning notice in a location where it can not be seen from all parts of the suspended region because of a bend in the road.

Example 3. Hedge in the way.

Can you see anything wrong with this residents bay sign?

Assuming you had a permit, would you be happy to park in the bay here? Now try having a look at the same sign from another angle.

I complained about this and Camden acknowledged that the advance warning notice was not visible from one end of the bay... but despite a series of complaints, they absolutely refused to do anything about it whatsoever!

Example 4. Next to post that could easily have been marked but wasn't

Often people get caught out because they park next to a lamp post or other type of sign which has no hint of an advance warning notice on and assume "this place must be ok to park because, if it was due to be suspended, then surely Camden would put an advance warning notice here"... but Camden often seem to restrict themselves to placing advance warning notices only on residents bay signs which can often be a long distance apart or not visible from all parts of the to-be-suspended region.

I wrote many letters to Camden complaining about these kind of situations but they refused to put up more signs. They repeatedly stated that they put up the statutory minimum and it was up to the driver to check the signs thoroughly in all circumstances. I assumed that Camden was acting within the law and there was nothing I could do. But more recently I did some research on the PATAS website and found that their interpretation of the law was wrong!

In the words of P.A.T.A.S. adjudicators... who are PATAS?

"...a single sign may not be adequate notice of the suspension. The Order specifies a minimum statutory requirement, but this does not mean that satisfaction of that requirement necessarily gives sufficient notice."
Read the original document in pdf format.

"...the Local Authority must, therefore, install and maintain signs and road markings which accord with the concept of fairness to the motorist and the need in unusual locations to ensure that the motorist is fully informed of the relevant traffic restrictions."
Read the original document in pdf format.

"The law cannot require a motorist to make more than reasonable enquiry as to whether a suspension is in force."
Read the original document in pdf format.

If you've been caught out by insufficient advance warning signs then you deserve your money back. To get your money back:

  • send an email to parking.solutions@camden.gov.uk explaining the details of your situation and request a refund.
  • If you no longer have the details of the ticket then request that they send you the information which they are obliged to give you under the freedom of information act.
  • Don't let them tell you you're too late. There is no maximum time limit for Councils to repay invalid parking fines and I know of at least one case where the council discovered a signage error and refunded parking tickets long after the supposed time limits had expired - even though the victims had not appealed and paid up long before.
Q: Does this problem exist with all councils?
A: I do not know the policies of other boroughs in general, but have noticed that in neighboring Brent they seem to put up twice as many warning notices (on trees etc.)


This conservative councillor seems incapable of implementing *his own* policy!

After the last election the new councillor in charge of parking policy (Mike Greene) told me Camden would place more advance warning signs. I thought "at last Camden are going to be fairer to their residents"... But I was soon to be disappointed....

8 Oct 06 Greene: "where a bay is part suspended, we should have suspension signs (and advance notification signs) on ALL the posts in that bay which are either within the suspended area or immediately either side of the suspended area."
6 Nov 06 Me: "your policy does not seem to be being implemented..."
7 Nov 06 Greene: "I have chased both on the individual incident and the training."
4 Dec 06 Me: "your policy does not seem to be being implemented..."
Greene: no reply
May 2008: - the policy is generally not being implemented. For a recent example click here.

Cllr. Greene's inability to implement his own stated policy has caused immense distress and financial hardship to a great many innocent, law abiding, Camden residents. I personally think he should do the honorable thing and resign.

Please send and queries about the contents of this website to: info@camdenparkingerrors.com

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