Civil parking enforcement
Cheshire West and Chester Council issues
Penalty Charge Notices (parking tickets) for streets and
council-owned car parks in the Chester and Ellesmere Port and
Neston areas. The police may issue tickets only for cases such
as obstruction and dangerous parking.
Pay your parking fine (PCN)
- Online: Pay your parking ticket online
- By telephone: 0300 123 7029: credit/debit card payments can be made by phoning the automated payment line (24 hour service).
- By cheque: Payable to 'Cheshire West and
Chester'. Post to: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Parking
Services, PO Box 1442, Chester, CH1 2WY
Please write the PCN number and your vehicle registration number on the reverse of the cheque.
Penalty charges
There are two levels of penalty charges depending on the severity of the parking contravention:
- Lower penalty charge: £50 (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days)
- Higher penalty charge: £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days)
Please see the front of your PCN for the charge payable. Late payment will result in increased charges. There are no exemptions for Blue Badge holders.
Cheshire Constabulary is still responsible for on-street parking contraventions in the Northwich and Winsford area.
Our aim is to manage on-street and off-street parking, to improve conditions for residents and visitors and to reduce illegal or inconsiderate parking that causes obstruction to others.
Challenging a parking fine
- Online: Challenge a parking fine online
- In writing: please quote the PCN number and your vehicle registration number and post to Cheshire West and Chester Council, Parking Services, PO Box 1442, Chester CH1 2WY.
- You may make a challenge within 28 days of the date served.
- If your challenge is received within 14 days you are eligible for a discount.
- We will write back to you with our decision. If we decide not to cancel your parking ticket, you will be given the opportunity to pay the discounted charge of £25 or £35 (depending on the contravention), providing you challenged it within 14 days.
- There are a limited number of grounds for appeal.
Formal Representations
- If no payment is made within 28 days of the date a Notice to Owner (NTO) will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle and the full charge will be payable.
- If you receive an NTO , you can use the form to make formal representations to us.
- We will write back to you with our decision. If we decide not to cancel your parking ticket, we will send you a letter explaining why, called a Notice of Rejection. You will be given the opportunity to pay the full charge of £50 or £70 (depending on the offence).
- We will also explain how you can appeal to the independent Parking Adjudicator and will send you a form (called a Notice of Appeal) on which you can make your appeal.
- If you pay late, the amount increases to £105/£75 or more.
Grounds for a Penalty Charge Notice representation
- The contravention did not happen.
- The PCN asked you to pay more than you are legally liable to.
- The parking restriction in question was invalid or illegal.
- You did not own the vehicle when the PCN was issued.
- The vehicle had been taken without your consent.
- We are a hire company and the hirer has signed a formal agreement accepting liability for PCN s.
- Cheshire West and Chester Council failed to comply with appropriate regulations - please provide the details.
- The Notice to Owner should not have been served because the PCN has already been paid - please provide the details.
Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT)
- If you still want to dispute the PCN you must appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of receiving the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator will consider the appeal and make a decision that is binding.
Parking enforcement guidance
This document was produced by the council following consultation with residents of Cheshire West and Chester.