The 5-paragraph structure
(1) Opening — your PCN reference, the date of issue, the contravention code. (2) Your grounds — why the ticket should be cancelled, naming the statutory ground where one applies. (3) Evidence — photos, signage diagrams, receipts, witness statements. (4) The law, where it helps — quote the relevant Act or regulation, not just the section number. (5) Closing — clear, polite request for cancellation and reinstatement of the discount.
Tone matters more than length
Adjudicators read hundreds of representations a week. Yours stands out by being specific, calm, and clear about its grounds — not by being long, angry, or emotional. A one-page letter that states its grounds clearly and attaches the evidence is usually more persuasive than a long letter without them.
What to avoid
Skip apologies (they read as admission). Skip moral arguments ("I was only there for two minutes"). Skip personal hardship as the primary ground unless mitigating circumstances are one of your grounds. Stick to defects on the council's side — signage, evidence, procedure, or exemption.