London Borough of Southwark (25 031 792)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council issuing a parking penalty for parking without a permit in a restricted zone. It was reasonable for Miss X to appeal to the Adjudicator at the London Tribunals.
The complaint
- Miss X says she received a penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking within a restricted zone without a permit. She says the street she parked on was not identified as a permit zone by any signs to advise about the restrictions. She wants the Council to withdraw the penalty.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone has a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to use this right. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- London Tribunals considers parking and moving traffic offence appeals for London.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council’s response.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X says she parked on a street which had no evidence of it being within a controlled parking zone. She received a PCN for parking without a permit. She says she made representations to the Council but it has rejected her challenge to the penalty.
- Where someone receives a parking penalty and they wish to challenge it they can appeal to the Adjudicator at the London Tribunals which is the proper authority to determine appeals on penalties. Miss X should wait for the Council’s Notice to Owner letter which advises applicants of their requirement to pay the penalty or to appeal to the Tribunals and how to do so.
- We will not investigate a compalint where it is reasonable for someone to appeal to a court or a tribunal.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint about the Council issuing a parking penalty for parking without a permit in a restricted zone. It was reasonable for Miss X to appeal to the Adjudicator at the London Tribunals.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman