Parking ticket received while attending a funeral
Many councils, and some private parking operators, will cancel a parking charge out of compassion if you were attending a funeral and the parking happened directly because of it. Important: this is a goodwill gesture, not a right. Attending a funeral is not one of the mitigating circumstances listed in the Private Parking Single Code of Practice, so on private land it depends entirely on the operator choosing to be lenient at the first (operator) appeal stage. If a private operator refuses and you escalate to the independent service (POPLA or the IAS), they cannot cancel on compassionate grounds alone — POPLA will instead refer your case back to the operator to reconsider. Councils run their own discretionary compassionate-cancellation policies and are often more willing to help. Supporting evidence — an order of service, a letter from the funeral director, or funeral home paperwork — will significantly strengthen your request.
Legal basis
Council discretionary (compassionate) cancellation policies; private operator goodwill at the first appeal stage. Note: attending a funeral is not a listed mitigating circumstance in the Private Parking Single Code of Practice (Annex F), and POPLA/IAS cannot allow an appeal on mitigating circumstances alone — POPLA refers such cases back to the operator to reconsider.
How to identify this in your case
You received a parking charge while attending a funeral, wake, or burial. The contravention occurred at or near the funeral venue, place of worship, crematorium, or cemetery. The timing of the contravention coincides with the funeral service.
Sample appeal wording
I am writing to appeal parking charge/PCN [reference] on compassionate grounds. On [date], I was attending the funeral of [first name / 'a close family member'] at [venue/church/crematorium/cemetery] when this parking contravention occurred. The circumstances are as follows: [Brief description — e.g. 'The funeral service ran longer than expected and I was unable to return to my vehicle within the permitted time. I was inside the chapel of rest and it was not possible to leave during the service.'] Supporting Documentation: - [Order of service enclosed] - [Letter from [funeral director name] confirming the funeral took place on [date] at [time]] This is a distressing situation. I respectfully request compassionate cancellation of this charge. Both [BPA/IPC/council] policies recognise bereavement as grounds for discretionary cancellation and I trust this request will be treated with the appropriate sensitivity.
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- BPA Code of Practice compassionate cancellation
- POPLA guidance
- Council discretionary cancellation policies
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