Parking 

This page provides a brief explanation about the different stages involved in the enforcement process Penalty Charge Notice.

A PCN is a legal document issued/served when a vehicle has been seen in contravention of parking/traffic restriction. It is served either directly to the vehicle (or to the person who appear to be the driver) at the time of the contravention or through the post, notifying the registered keeper that the vehicle has been observed contravening parking restriction or traffic restriction.

If the PCN remains unpaid after 28 days of the date of service of Notice to Owner (or Enforcement Notice), a Charge Certificate is sent by post which increases the charge by 50% of the original amount, giving 14 days for payment to be made.

Once a Charge Certificate is issued you can no longer make a Representation. If you were not aware of the contravention prior to receiving the Charge Certificate, or if you have received no reply to a Representation or an Appeal, you will have to wait to make a Statutory Declaration.

If the registered owner of the vehicle does not respond to the Charge Certificate within 14 days, the local authority may register the debt at Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC), and a Notice of Registration will be served. 

At this point, the outstanding amount on the PCN will increase by £7.00 which is a surcharge of the cost of registering the order. You have 21 days from the date of service to pay the outstanding amount on the Order for Recovery.

If the penalty charge has not been paid within 21 days of the Order for Recovery being served, the Council will ask for a Warrant of Execution. Once granted, it will be passed to our certified bailiff to recover the amount owed.

Please note that a certified bailiff is allowed to charge recovery fees for every letter, visit and action taken as part of the effort to recover the outstanding amount.