London Borough of Hounslow: PCNs and how to challenge them

What Hounslow enforces

Parking

Enforces — including CCTV for bus stops, school keep clears and some red routes

Bus lanes / gates

Enforces

Moving traffic

Enforces — banned turns, box junctions and vehicle restrictions

Penalty level

London charge levels (London Councils)

Appeals

London Tribunals (free)

About Hounslow PCNs

Hounslow issues PCNs for parking, bus lanes and moving traffic (banned turns, box junctions and vehicle restrictions), and its guide sets out different time limits for each. For a parking PCN handed out by a civil enforcement officer you have 14 days to pay the discount; if an informal challenge made in that period fails, Hounslow offers the discount again for 14 days the first time. A parking PCN sent by post after CCTV enforcement gives 21 days for the discount and 28 days for formal representations. Bus lane and moving traffic PCNs come by post with 14 days for the discount; the council says it normally re-offers the discount for 14 days if it rejects representations made in that period.

You can challenge online, by email to the address Hounslow publishes ([email protected]) or by post to its Sheffield PO box; it does not acknowledge post. Include the PCN number, your full name, the registration, full reasons and your evidence, and look at the photos and CCTV first. If you write for someone else, include their permission. If you sold or bought the vehicle around the date of a bus lane PCN, Hounslow says to wait for the Enforcement Notice.

Hounslow says it must answer formal representations on parking PCNs within 56 days and aims to answer bus lane and moving traffic representations within three months. If it rejects them, you normally have 28 days from the Notice of Rejection to appeal to London Tribunals, which is free.

How to challenge a Hounslow PCN

1. Check the deadline. A camera PCN sent by post gets a 50% discount if paid within 14 days; representations are normally due within 28 days of the notice being served.
2. Make representations to the council using its online challenge form or by post to London Borough of Hounslow (Parking Services), PO Box 211, Sheffield S98 1NG. Quote the PCN number and the grounds that apply.
3. If rejected, appeal to London Tribunals within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator is independent of Hounslow.

London penalty levels from 7 April 2025: Band A £160/£110, Band B £140/£90; bus lane and moving traffic £160 (London Councils).

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