PCN issued in English only by a Welsh council
Certain Welsh councils must offer all public-facing notices — including a penalty charge notice (PCN), Notice to Owner, and Charge Certificate — in both Welsh and English. The recipient must have a real choice of language, not just English. If your notice was English only, with no Welsh text and no indication that a Welsh version exists or how to get one, the notice was not issued correctly and cannot lawfully be used to pursue payment.
Legal basis
Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 s.26; Welsh Language Standards (No. 1) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/996), Operational Standards 1–10; Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2013 (WSI 2013/362)
How to identify this in your case
Examine the PCN, NtO and Charge Certificate. If it is English-only, contains no Welsh greeting or indication that a Welsh version is available, and is issued by a Council named in WSI 2015/996 or holding bespoke Standards, this defence applies.
Sample appeal wording
Dear Sir/Madam, Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] I challenge this PCN on the basis that the notice served on me does not comply with [COUNCIL_NAME]'s Welsh Language Standards. Under the Welsh Language Standards (No. 1) Regulations 2015 (or the bespoke compliance notice issued to the Council under section 44 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011), the Council must (a) issue correspondence in Welsh where the recipient's preference is unknown, or (b) provide a Welsh version on request and indicate that this is available. The PCN I received is wholly in English; it contains no Welsh greeting, no Welsh translation, and no statement that a Welsh-language version may be obtained. Under Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2013, a representation may be made on the basis of any procedural impropriety. A breach of statutory Welsh Language Standards in the issue of the very notice founding the penalty is such an impropriety. I request cancellation. If refused, I will appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and request that the Welsh Language Commissioner be invited to comment. Yn gywir / Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
Beat It writes this argument automatically
Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.
Scan my ticketSources
- legislation.gov.uk/mwa/2011/1
- legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2013/362
- welshlanguagecommissioner.wales
Related appeal grounds
- Aberdeen Clean Air Zone ticket issued too early
- Appealing a Scottish tribunal's legal error to a higher tribunal
- Attorney acting for keeper under Scottish power of attorney
- Bailiff acted without proper advance warning notice
- Bath CAZ — Sunset Period for Pre-Registered Commercial Vehicles
- Bay Obstructed or Too Small — Could Not Park Within the Bay Markings