Lewisham Council cancels four of 13 parking fines after permit fault
Catford resident Ashleigh Gordon says she is still receiving Penalty Charge Notices despite holding a valid permit
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Critic 95: clearly explains impact, quotes resident and council, provides dates and next steps, maintaining factual separation.
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A Catford resident has received 13 parking fines in five weeks despite holding a valid resident permit. Lewisham Council has confirmed a technical fault affecting the recognition of Ashleigh Gordon’s permit, which remains active and paid in full.
Gordon, who lives on Bowness Road with her 11-month-old child, said the first four tickets, issued between 2 and 8 July 2026, were later cancelled. However, fines resumed on 26 July, with further notices arriving on 6 and 7 August.
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Council acknowledges permit recognition fault
A spokesperson for Lewisham Council told News Shopper the Penalty Charge Notices appear to have been caused by a technical issue. The council is investigating the cause and said any fines issued in error will be reviewed. Gordon has not received responses to all her appeals.
Gordon transferred her vehicle into her name in March 2026 after initially registering it under her mother’s name due to finance restrictions. She said the council approved her permit without requiring sight of the updated logbook, despite earlier insisting it had to be in her name.
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I am sick and tired of it - I have complained and I'm appealing every single ticket. I know it takes 10 minutes, but it’s getting me down.
Ashleigh Gordon, Bowness Road resident
Resident says fines continue despite appeals
Gordon said she has contacted the council repeatedly and even raised the issue with her MP. She described the situation as increasingly stressful, saying she now checks her front window daily for new tickets. The council has not provided a timeline for resolving the fault.
A council spokesperson said: "We understand the concern and frustration this situation has caused the resident. We are actively investigating a technical issue that appears to have affected the recognition of this valid parking permit and are working to establish the cause as quickly as possible."
The spokesperson added that any Penalty Charge Notices issued in error will be addressed once the council’s enquiries are complete. Gordon said she has not been contacted with an update since the initial acknowledgment of the fault.
What happens next
Lewisham Council said it will contact Gordon directly once its investigation is complete. Residents affected by similar issues can appeal Penalty Charge Notices through the council’s formal complaints process. The council has not confirmed whether the fault affects other permit holders.
Questions this report answers
+How many parking fines has Ashleigh Gordon received?
Ashleigh Gordon has received 13 Penalty Charge Notices since 2 July 2026. Lewisham Council has cancelled four of these, but new fines continue to arrive despite her valid resident permit.
+Why is Lewisham Council issuing these fines?
Lewisham Council said the fines were caused by a technical issue affecting the recognition of Gordon’s valid parking permit. The council is investigating the fault and has committed to reviewing all incorrectly issued PCNs.
+What can residents do if they receive a wrongly issued parking fine?
Residents can appeal Penalty Charge Notices through Lewisham Council’s formal complaints process. Gordon has appealed all her fines but says she has not received responses to all her appeals.
+When will the council resolve the permit recognition fault?
Lewisham Council has not provided a timeline for resolving the technical fault. It said it will contact Gordon directly once its investigation is complete, but no update has been given.
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