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hi all
A friend got a parking ticket for not being in a marked bay at crystal palace sports centre. The car park is situated inside the park. Gemini Parking Solutions issued the PCN via post. It's not one of the car parks that park users are expected to use i.e. the car park is associated with the sports centre, not the park. GLL refers to the operator of the leisure centre (Greenwich leisure limited).
They don't deny the charge - they're the keeper & owner of the vehicle and had tucked themselves over next to the exit point of the car park (as can be seen from the photos attached of the letter - the other photos show where they parked and the GLA asset portfolio database), as there were no parking bays at all (they'd already driven round 3 times looking and were due to coach a match shortly i.e. in a bit of a rush). They'd not blocked the exit and other people had taken to parking on the grass slopes next to the road in desperation (but that seemed a step too far).
Additionally, they think they've just missed the cut off for appeals (28 days), going from the date on the letter. However, there's nothing in the postal PCN that says the 28 days runs from the date of letter. Letter is dated 3rd March. The letter was received on the 6th March (though can't prove that - just came through letterbox).
Anyway, the PCN is annoying because there was no space to park, plus, if this previous post on this forum is correct (https://legalbeagles.info/forums/forum/legal-forums/motoring-parking/ppc-s-parking-charge-notices/99611-gemini-parking-solutions-london-ltd?p=1132004#post1132004), parking is free, which makes the £60 or £100 ridiculous.
The driver has not been able to review whether signage at the site is clear, appropriate or mentions about parking in the bays. They live over an hours drive from crystal palace and of course we're in covid19 lockdown. They've not tried contacting the sports centre because it's closed too, due to the lockdown. The earlier legal beagles post said the signage only referred to disabled parking and the April 2018 street view imagery would suggest similarly. You can actually follow street view round the whole of the circuit and through the carpark and the only signage found related to the disabled bays but, again, the imagery is April 2018
The driver was hoping that the claim Gemini made that they've parked on private land is the loophole, since their understanding is that the land belongs to the GLA. They definitely have 4 assets in the crystal palace park (see one of the uploaded photos), which includes the leisure centre but it's not clear if the car park is actually part of that asset.
It's not clear who owns the land but it seems to be either the GLA or Bromley Council. The GLA were contacted by phone and email - no reply to the email and the customer service lady didn't provide any insight.
Anyhow, the driver would welcome your opinions and any help you can provide.
regards,
Gary
Key to photos:
- first two are the PCN
- 3rd gives you an idea of where the driver parked
- 4th - the red cross is where the driver parked
- 5th - the blue triangles are the GLA assets and the tiny red cross is where the driver parked
A friend got a parking ticket for not being in a marked bay at crystal palace sports centre. The car park is situated inside the park. Gemini Parking Solutions issued the PCN via post. It's not one of the car parks that park users are expected to use i.e. the car park is associated with the sports centre, not the park. GLL refers to the operator of the leisure centre (Greenwich leisure limited).
They don't deny the charge - they're the keeper & owner of the vehicle and had tucked themselves over next to the exit point of the car park (as can be seen from the photos attached of the letter - the other photos show where they parked and the GLA asset portfolio database), as there were no parking bays at all (they'd already driven round 3 times looking and were due to coach a match shortly i.e. in a bit of a rush). They'd not blocked the exit and other people had taken to parking on the grass slopes next to the road in desperation (but that seemed a step too far).
Additionally, they think they've just missed the cut off for appeals (28 days), going from the date on the letter. However, there's nothing in the postal PCN that says the 28 days runs from the date of letter. Letter is dated 3rd March. The letter was received on the 6th March (though can't prove that - just came through letterbox).
Anyway, the PCN is annoying because there was no space to park, plus, if this previous post on this forum is correct (https://legalbeagles.info/forums/forum/legal-forums/motoring-parking/ppc-s-parking-charge-notices/99611-gemini-parking-solutions-london-ltd?p=1132004#post1132004), parking is free, which makes the £60 or £100 ridiculous.
The driver has not been able to review whether signage at the site is clear, appropriate or mentions about parking in the bays. They live over an hours drive from crystal palace and of course we're in covid19 lockdown. They've not tried contacting the sports centre because it's closed too, due to the lockdown. The earlier legal beagles post said the signage only referred to disabled parking and the April 2018 street view imagery would suggest similarly. You can actually follow street view round the whole of the circuit and through the carpark and the only signage found related to the disabled bays but, again, the imagery is April 2018
The driver was hoping that the claim Gemini made that they've parked on private land is the loophole, since their understanding is that the land belongs to the GLA. They definitely have 4 assets in the crystal palace park (see one of the uploaded photos), which includes the leisure centre but it's not clear if the car park is actually part of that asset.
It's not clear who owns the land but it seems to be either the GLA or Bromley Council. The GLA were contacted by phone and email - no reply to the email and the customer service lady didn't provide any insight.
Anyhow, the driver would welcome your opinions and any help you can provide.
regards,
Gary
Key to photos:
- first two are the PCN
- 3rd gives you an idea of where the driver parked
- 4th - the red cross is where the driver parked
- 5th - the blue triangles are the GLA assets and the tiny red cross is where the driver parked
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