A Kingston resident is challenging a parking penalty after receiving a ticket following a stay of approximately seven minutes, despite a nearby sign prominently stating "30 MINUTES FREE PARKING."

The resident, who lives in the Norbiton area, parked near a local coffee shop and believed they were permitted to park free of charge for up to 30 minutes.

However, on returning to their vehicle after only a few minutes, they found a parking penalty notice.

It was only after taking a photograph of the sign and enlarging it on their phone that they noticed smaller wording stating that the parking session had to be pre-booked.

They have now formally appealed the penalty, arguing that the way the information is presented is misleading because the "30 MINUTES FREE PARKING" message is displayed prominently, while the pre-booking requirement appears in considerably smaller print.

The resident has also raised concerns about accessibility, and they say they are relatively short and the sign is positioned at considerable height.

The resident told Nub News: "I genuinely believed I was entitled to park for up to 30 minutes free of charge. I was there for approximately seven minutes and had no intention of avoiding the parking restrictions or payment.

"What concerns me is that the most prominent message on the sign says '30 MINUTES FREE PARKING', while the condition that you have to pre-book is much smaller and much harder to read."

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They believe that important conditions attached to a parking offer should be displayed clearly and with sufficient prominence for motorists to understand them before deciding to park.

The resident has contacted their three Norbiton councillors and has asked Kingston Council to review the signage and consider its accessibility.

They have also asked the council to provide a clear photograph showing how the sign would appear to a driver approaching and parking at the location, including the positioning and prominence of the pre-booking requirement.

The resident said: "I understand that parking restrictions have to be enforced. My concern is whether motorists are being given sufficiently clear and accessible information about what those restrictions actually require.

"If a sign prominently tells motorists that they can park for 30 minutes free of charge, I think any condition that fundamentally changes that message should be equally clear and visible."

The council has been asked to consider the individual appeal and the wider concerns regarding the signage.