Parking Signage Query: Please Help!

[GPSHead]

I have today received my first Penalty Charge Notice for four years. It was for stopping in a loading bay for a couple of minutes (without leaving the car). It was detected by camera in the London Borough of Lambeth.

At http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2002/20023113.htm it states that sign 660.4 ("Loading Only" ) may be used in conjunction with the following road markings:

(a) 1028.3 or 1032 in each case when varied to indicate "LOADING ONLY"; or

(b) 1033 when no legend appears

The thing is that the words marked on the road are "LOADING BAY" and not "LOADING ONLY". There appears to be no mention of "LOADING BAY" as a variation, so am I right in thinking that this is meaningless and therefore grounds to cancel the PCN?

The road markings delimiting the bay itself are those in 1028.3 (with "LOADING BAY" instead of "DISABLED" as already stated).

Furthermore, the permissable widths of the dashed lines are stated as "50 (75) (100)". I realise this is in millimetres, but otherwise, what does it actually mean?

I would really appreciate the assistance of those in the know. I realise I am "clutching at technicalities" but thereagain the whole PCN is a technicality in my view; I was doing no harm whatsoever.

Thanks in advance.

Edited by GPSHead on Saturday 16th June 23:40

Edited by GPSHead on Sunday 17th June 05:34

[GPSHead]

Just for the record, I wrote to them with an informal appeal and they wrote back and cancelled the ticket there and then. A pleasant surprise as they don't usually roll over so easily. Just shows that it's always worth at least trying.

Full details for anyone that's interested:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=2131...

(These days PePiPoo is very good for parking tickets as well as speeding cases.)