Bromley coach company gets nine LEZ fines after wrong TfL advice

Paul Yeoell runs a coach business - known as Paul RJ Yeoell Mini Coaches - across Orpington and Bromley.

The company transports special needs children to school on a daily basis and has four mini coaches - all of which Paul claims are compliant with the Low Emission Zone rules across London.

Despite having received PCN fines, Paul claims he provided TfL with evidence of the compliance for each mini coach, and as a result was told that the coaches in question met the Low Emission Zone standard.

However, he continued to receive PCNs in the post – and has now received nine in total for just one vehicle.

TfL letters (images: Paul Yeoell)

Paul says two of the PCNs have also escalated into red notices - with warnings of county court stages unless £1,500 is paid.

Paul told the News Shopper: “We have submitted evidence twice proving that the vehicle is compliant - once before the LEZ Zone charges began in March 2021, and once by contesting the first LEZ PCN in September 2021.

“We then received a letter from TfL in October 2021 which was a notice of acceptance of the representation for the first PCN.

“They also stated that they have now updated the vehicle details in their database and as a result the vehicle is now compliant for the LEZ and have cancelled the LEZ penalty charge notice(s).

“They stated that no further action will be taken.”

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A spokesperson for TfL has since told the News Shopper that the mini coach in question is in fact subject to the LEZ charge and the company has apologised for “wrongly advising” Paul that it met the standard - when it in fact doesn’t.

TfL has agreed to cancel the outstanding penalty notices due to the “incorrect advice” it issued.

However, Paul is still adamant that his vehicles are compliant with the LEZ standard.

Paul explained: “I frequently check the TFL database, and this one vehicle has not been updated.

“We now continue to receive incorrect PCNs that have now escalated to a £1,500 charge notice, with a threat of County Court action and enforcement.

“Now we have been logged out of the database and can’t access the website.”

Paul says he has attempted to contact TfL for support and has sent MOT documents and specific details about each mini coach.

Paul Yeoell runs a coach business - known as Paul RJ Yeoell Mini Coaches (images:Paul Yeoell)

He added: “Our vehicles aren’t private minibuses, they’re public service vehicles, similar to a bus.

“It’s a compliant vehicle in my opinion, yet I can’t seem to get through to anyone.

“It has been totally impossible to get through to anyone, and now these are the mounting issues I have to deal with.”

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Like other businesses across the UK, Paul RJ Yeoell Mini Coaches has been trying to recover from the aftermath of the pandemic – and Paul says the PCN letters have only created “extra stress”.

Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL’s general manager of road user charging, said: “Mr Yeoell’s vehicle is subject to the LEZ charge, and we have apologised to him for wrongly advising that it met the standards.

“As we initially gave Mr Yeoell incorrect advice, we have cancelled the outstanding penalty charges and are making him aware of options he can pursue to avoid paying the charge.

“The Low Emission Zone operates across the whole of London to help tackle the capital’s toxic air, which contributes to thousands of deaths each year and is linked to heart disease, dementia and the stunted development of children’s lungs.”

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