This page explains the enforcement process for a parking fine / Penalty Charge Notice received in one of our Pay and Display car parks.
Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
You will get a PCN or parking fine in one of our Pay and Display car parks if you breach one or more of the car park rules.
There are two levels of contravention, for the higher level the charge is £70, and the lower level is £50. If you pay the fine within 14 days, you get 50% off the fine.
Challenging a parking fine
If you think you have been issued the fine unfairly, you can make an informal challenge . If you make this within 14 days, the fine will remain at the reduced rate until we make a decision. If we reject your challenge, you will have a further 14 days to pay at the reduced rate.
Making a Formal Challenge / Notice to Owner (NtO)
If you haven't paid the fine within 35 days, you will receive an NtO. You then have 28 days to make a formal challenge (called a representation).
The registered keeper of the vehicle is liable for the fine, regardless of who was in charge of the vehicle on the day the fine was received.
In your representation, you should explain why you are challenging the fine, giving us as much detail as possible. You should also include evidence to support your challenge.
Notice of Rejection (NoR)
If we reject your formal challenge, we will send you a Notice of Rejection. You will then have 28 days to either pay the fine or appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT)
The TPT is an independent judicial body. Once you receive a Notice of Rejection, you can appeal to the TPT within 28 days. Full instructions on how to do this are in the NoR.
The TPT will review the case and make an independent decision. This decision is final and binding on both parties.
If the appeal is rejected, you need to make a full payment within 14 days. If you don't pay, you will get a Charge Certificate.
Charge Certificate (CC)
The fine is increased by 50% when we issue a CC. You need to pay within 14 days. If you don't, you will get a Notice of Registration. You have no further right to make an appeal once you receive a Charge Certificate.
Notice of Registration
You will get a Notice of Registration 21 days after the Charge Certificate, if you have not paid the fine. You then have 10 days to pay the outstanding charge or it will be registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre. This will increase the fine by £8.
Traffic Enforcement Centre for Recovery
If you still don't pay the fine, we will get an "Order for Recovery" from the Traffic Enforcement Centre. This increases the fine by £8 due to a Court Registration Fee. The fine can now be passed to the bailiff.
Enforcement Agents
If you still don't pay, the court will grant a Warrant of Execution, which passes the debt to our Enforcement Agent (bailiff).
At this point, you can no longer contact us about your fine.
The bailiff will contact you to recover the amount due. They can add fees to the debt to cover the costs of sending letters and making personal visits. However, the amount due to the Council will not increase. If you have been contacted by the Enforcement Agency and do not make arrangements to pay the debt, your vehicle or goods may be seized and sold at auction.