Car Parks

I have recently received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and wish to know how I can deal with this?

Everything you need to deal with this is on the Penalty Charge Notice.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended) representations against the issue of a PCN may only be made after we send the Notice to Owner (NtO) document to the keeper of the vehicle. To obtain this information, we make enquiries to DVLA; however, an NtO may be sent to the person appearing to the Council to bee the owner.

The options available at this stage of the process are:

1. To pay £40 (current charge) within 14 days of the issue of the PCN or £80 (current charge) thereafter in order to close the case. Payment may be made by cheque or postal order payable to LB HOUNSLOW and sent to the Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DN; or by telephone with credit or debit card on 0845 1300 555. Cash payments at our Civic Centre Cashiers Office need to be made before 1600 hours (4.00pm) Monday to Friday.Cheques should be made payable to 'London Borough of Hounslow'.

You may also pay on line using our Internet Payment Facility

2. If you wish to challenge a penalty charge notice it must be in writing. The address to write an informal challenge is on the reverse side of the penalty charge notice itself. If your challenge is received within the discount period of 14 days and rejected, the discount will be re-offered once only for 14 days after the date of our letter of rejection. Under the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended) formal representations against the issue of the penalty charge may only be made after we send the 'Notice to Owner' document to the person appearing to the Council to be the owner 28 days after the date the penalty charge notice was issued.

Enquiries can be sent to Parking Services, Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 4DN or emailed to parking@hounslow.gov.uk

What do I do about an unpaid Penalty Charge Notice?

If you have received a pink and green form called a Notice to Owner (NtO), this document asks you either to pay at the full charge or make representation.

If you wish to pay, the payment methods are listed above and on that document.

If you wish to make representation, all of the instructions you need in order to complete this are shown on the document. You will need to select your grounds by ticking one of the boxes on the front, or whichever is nearest to your reasons.

Enter whatever mitigation you wish to on the reverse side of the representations page. Sign and date the document. Please note that only the addressee may make a representation (or given an explanation or comments).

You should be aware that in law, the owner of the vehicle is held to be responsible for a penalty charge notice regardless of who was driving it at the time it was issued. For vehicles hired under a relevant hire agreement, the responsible party is the person who hired the vehicle. The hire company will be sent the NtO and they will either pay the charge and bill you, or nominate you as the hirer. The Council will then send a fresh NtO to the hirer.

If you fail to respond to the Notice to Owner addressed to you within 28 days, then the next stage of Charge Certificate will increase the full amount by 50%.

Therefore it is in your own interest not to ignore the Notice to Owner but to reply appropriately and in time.

What do I do about a Charge Certificate?

If you have received a green form called a Charge Certificate, it is too late to make representation and the right to appeal has been lost.

The options are to pay the charge as stated, in full, or, if one of the 3 grounds below applies, to wait until the case is registered as a debt at Northampton County Court Parking Enforcement Centre and make a statutory declaration. The 3 grounds are:

(i)You did not receive the notice to owner (sent through the post at least 28 days after the penalty charge notice was issued).

(ii)You made a representation to the Council but did not receive a notice of rejection.

(iii)You made an appeal to the adjudicator but did not receive a reply.

What are the guidelines for the use of Contract Parking Permits?

For use in the London Borough of Hounslow Pay and Display Car Parks only but not in access roads, goods areas, disabled bays or bays reserved specifically for others (signposted). Car Park Regulations apply. The permit is not valid on highway spaces.

What are the guidelines for the use of Residents Permits?

Applications can only be accepted when supported with proof of residency and vehicle ownership.

In order to demonstrate residency, acceptable documents are: the Council Tax bill; a Tenancy Agreement or Rent Book. To demonstrate vehicle ownership, the acceptable document is the Vehicle Registration Document (V5).

If these are unavailable, contact the Parking Office to agree which alternative documents may be used. These may include recent utility bills; bank or credit card statements but you may need more than one or two. If you are not the keeper of the vehicle but are the main driver of a company car, a letter from the vehicle owner and an insurance document together will suffice.

Residents’ Permits are only valid within the specified zone in which you live, and in resident bays or “shared use” indicated by plates by the side of the bays.

They are not valid on yellow lines, in business only bays, in disabled bays, in pay and display only bays or at meters, in motorcycle bays (unless being displayed by a motorcycle) or in Hounslow Council Car Parks and not on a yellow line restriction. They also only relate to the vehicle whose registration number is shown on the permit and are not transferable. Please note that Childminders or Nannies do not qualify as residents and cannot apply for this permit. They need to obtain a Business Permit.

What are the guidelines for the use of Business Permits?

Applications may be made by anyone with a business within the zone. They do not have to be resident within the Borough. The permits are valid in business only bays or appropriately marked dual or triple use bays within the specified zoned area. They are not valid in resident only, pay and display only, disabled bays, motorcycle only bays (unless displayed by a motorcycle), in Hounslow Council Car Parks or at meters nor on yellow line restrictions. They are only valid for the vehicle registration number and the zone shown on the permit and are not transferable.

What are the guidelines for the use of Resident/Business 'Various' Permits?

These are issued where documentary proof has been produced to show that vehicles being used by any individual may vary on a regular basis. The permit would have no specific registration number and is therefore transferable between vehicles. Their status for use is the same as for those of Resident Permits (see above).

What are the guidelines for the use of Motorcycle Permits?

Motorcycle permits are for residents only and specifically for that classification of vehicle and for use in any motorcycle only or resident only or appropriately marked dual or triple use bays within the zone. They are not valid on footways; in pay and display only bays or car parks and meters, nor in disabled bays or business permit only bays. They are also not valid on yellow line restrictions and are issued to the vehicle whose registration number is shown on the permit. They are not transferable.

What are the guidelines for the use of Visitor Permits?

These are available for use in specified zones only in resident permit only or appropriately marked dual or triple use bays. They are not valid in pay and display only bays, at meters, in business permit only bays, in disabled bays or motorcycle bays (unless displayed by a motorcycle) and not in Hounslow Council Car Parks. The instructions for use (including the need to complete each line in ink) are on the back of the permit.

What are the guidelines for the use of Long Term Visitor Permits?

Residents who have a specific relative or friend who will be staying with them for a month or more can buy long term visitor permits. The permit is issued on a monthly basis, renewable at our discretion. Proof of the visit will be required. It must be used as if it were a Resident Permit (see above).

What are the guidelines for the use of Carer Permits?

Carers who regularly visit sick or dependent relatives or friends and provide them with routine care can apply for a Carer Permit. Proof of this is required. These permits must be used as if they were Resident Permits (see above).

What are the guidelines for the use of Medical Permits?

Bona fide medical staff required to make home visits to clients for medical reasons can apply for Medical Permits. They are only valid in resident bays, “shared use” bays (dual or triple use), or pay and display bays in the specified zone. They are not valid at meters or in Hounslow Council Car Parks nor on yellow line restrictions.

For further information, including the current cost of these permits, please call 020 8583 4855

What are Hounslow's current charges for Parking Services?

1. Replacement permit for a change of vehicle

A charge of £10.00 will be made for each permit issued as a replacement or for change of vehicle.

2. Permit charges

	Area	Area	Area	Area	Area
	Hounslow Feltham Isleworth	Brentford	Chiswick	Gunnersbury	Twickenham RFU
1st vehicle	£45.00	£55.00	£60.00	£40.00	Free
2nd vehicle	£70.00	£80.00	£85.00	£55.00	Free
3rd + vehicles (each)	£110.00	£120.00	£125.00	£80.00	Free
Motorcycles	£20.00	£20.00	£20.00	£12.00	Free
Medical	£15.00	£15.00	£15.00	£15.00	N/a
Carer	£15.00	£15.00	£15.00	£15.00	Free
Visitor	£7.50	£10.00	£10.00	£10.00	Free
Long Term Visitor	£10.00	£20.00	£20.00	£20.00	N/a
BUSINESS PERMITS	1 Year Permit	6 Month Permit	3 Month Permit
	£450.00	£225.00	£120.00

How do I renew my Permit?

Renewal notices are sent monthly by first class post. The Council cannot guarantee this service, and so the owner of the vehicle must be responsible for ensuring permits are renewed in good time. Please allow extra time for postal applications. Applications can be made in person at the Civic Centre; however, it may not be possible to issue the permit immediately.

All permit applications including renewals must be accompanied by a Council Tax bill or tenancy agreement and proof of ownership of the vehicle.

Where can I park in Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford, Isleworth and Chiswick?

Car Parks

The Council operates/administers a number of pay and display Car Parks in each of the main town centre areas within the Borough:

Hounslow

Montague Road
Bath Road
Prince Regent Road
Alexandra Road/Holloway Street
School Road
Bell Road
Grove Road
Staines Road (above Safeways supermarket)
Kingsley Road (Hounslow East)
Bath Road (Hounslow West).

Feltham

Sydney Road
Highfield Road
Bedfont Lane
New Road
Bethany Waye (Bedfont)
Bridge House

Brentford

Windmill Road/Layton Road
Albany Parade
Fountain Centre Leisure Centre

Isleworth

Wisdom Court

Chiswick

Welstead Way (off Bath Road)
Chiswick Common Road.

Car parks are enforced by Civil Enforcement Officer who will check vehicle windows to ensure that pay and display tickets are correctly exhibited, and that vehicles are parked correctly within the bay markings. They will issue Penalty Charge Notices where vehicles are parked illegally (under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended). The penalty charge is currently £80. Waiting in your car will not prevent the issue of a penalty charge notice.

On Street pay to park Parking

Pay and display machines and meters in the main town centre areas and at other locations throughout the Borough enable parking in “shared use” and pay and display bays. The hourly charges and lengths of stay are advertised at the ticket machines and meters. Civil Enforcement Officer will issue Penalty Charge Notices to vehicles illegally parked (under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended). The penalty charge is currently £80.)

Twickenham RFU Event area parking

On “event” days warning signs will be displayed and all restrictions within the Zone are enforced by Civil Enforcement Officer who will issue Penalty Charge Notices to illegally parked vehicles. The current Charge is £100.

The restrictions include yellow lines and permit-only bays. Outside event dates, restrictions do not apply.

Controlled Parking Zones

Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are areas in which a consultation has defined a boundary for parking controls. A Traffic Management Order sets out the controls and the way in which parking is permitted, and specifies the control hours. It is designed to accommodate Residents, local Business needs and customers, visitors and commuters.

The way in which the control is implemented is through the use of specific parking permits bays (resident, business, carer, visitor and medical permits); pay and display areas and meter bays. (See Permits above.)

For information about the controls in your area contact 0208 583 4863 or email parking@hounslow.gov.uk.

Footway Parking

Footway parking is not permitted across London unless the area is specifically exempted, and indicated by white bay markings and appropriate exemption signs. The footway-parking ban applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Vehicles parked in contravention on the footway can be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. In Hounslow the penalty charge is currently £80.

Challenges to a Penalty Charge Notic

Challenges can be made in writing and sent either by post to the address below or to the emailed to parking@hounslow.gov.uk. All the information necessary to deal with this including where to write to is printed on the back of the Penalty Charge Notice.

How can I contact you for further information?

You can contact us by writing to:

Parking Services
Street Management & Public Protection
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN

Telephone: 020 8583 4863 Permits
Telephone: 020 8583 5028 Penalty charge enquiries
Telephone: 020 8583 4887 Payments (credit & debit card line)
Fax: 020 8583 4889

E-mail: parking@hounslow.gov.uk