Your hearing/postal decision

When a Notice of Appeal is received at the Tribunal our staff will make some basic checks and if everything is in order it will be registered as a formal appeal.

You may attend a personal hearing of your appeal via Microsoft Teams or have it considered in your absence:

Personal hearing

Getting ready for the hearing

  • Make sure that you have sent any documents, photographs etc that you intend to rely on in your appeal to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators;

  • If you wish to submit in evidence photographs in electronic format or moving images, please upload them through the appellant portal where you have appealed online or on CD or DVD if you have not.

  • In view of the significant security issues associated with their use, we cannot accept evidence on a USB flash drive;

  • Please also note that, if you present evidence at a hearing that we cannot retain, such as on a mobile telephone, laptop or camcorder, the adjudicator may need to adjourn the hearing for you to provide the evidence in a suitable form;

  • If you have not already sent any documents, photographs etc. that you intend to rely on with your Notice of Appeal, please try to send them to arrive no later than six days before your hearing date, so that copies can be made available to the enforcement authority;

  • Please understand that it is for you to present your evidence to the adjudicator;

  • It is the adjudicator's role to consider the evidence you and the enforcement authority present to him and to make a decision based on that evidence. It is not the adjudicator's function to obtain your evidence or to contact witnesses on your behalf;

  • If you want the adjudicator to consider the evidence of a witness they should ideally attend the hearing with you to give evidence. You may also provide a statement from them. This will be essential if they do not attend the hearing;

  • You should receive a copy of the enforcement authority's evidence to consider at least 3 days before the hearing;

  • A friend or family member may join your hearing for support if you would like.

  • If you require a signer or interpreter a relative or friend may join your hearing to sign or interpret for you.

  • If you have any special requirements please see our reasonable adjustments page or contact us. View contact details.

Your hearing

  • Your appeal will be decided by an adjudicator, who is a lawyer.

  • The adjudicator is independent of both parties to the appeal. Usually, the enforcement authority will not attend the hearing, but will have submitted evidence to contest the appeal.

  • Please remember that it is a judicial hearing like a court, not a meeting. The adjudicator is similar to a judge.

  • The adjudicator will introduce the hearing and explain the procedure.

  • Tell the adjudicator if you have any reasonable adjustments or if you have difficulties in understanding the proceedings for any reason.

  • Please understand that people who behave in a disruptive manner may be removed from the hearing.

  • You will not be asked to take an oath when giving evidence, but you must tell the truth. If you do not, you could be prosecuted.

  • All the documents relating to your appeal will usually be available to the adjudicator for viewing during the hearing.

  • The adjudicator will not normally have considered the case or seen any of the documents before the hearing.

  • The hearing will be recorded. Please see our privacy statement for details. You may not record, film, video or photograph the hearing.

  • Once the adjudicator has considered the evidence and your representations, they will usually then tell you the result of the appeal. The decision will also be sent to you by your preferred contact method.

  • On occasion, at the end of the hearing the adjudicator may tell you that they need time to consider the evidence or submissions before reaching a decision. We will then send you the decision once the adjudicator has made it.

  • Once made, the adjudicator’s decision is binding on you and the authority.

  • Sometimes the adjudicator may decide to adjourn the case to be concluded on another day; for example, for more evidence to be provided. You will be told when the next hearing will be.

If you are unable to attend your hearing

  • If you are unable to attend your personal hearing for any reason please contact us by telephone as soon as possible. View contact details. 

  • To avoid any delay in considering your request, please do not e-mail or post it to us.

  • Unless you have spoken to somebody or received written or e-mail confirmation that your hearing has been rescheduled, please do not assume that you will automatically be granted an adjournment.

Postal decisions

  • If you choose to have your appeal considered in your absence (a postal decision), you will be told when your appeal will fall into the adjudicators’ list and a date by which time you should submit any further evidence.

  • Please note that the date on which your appeal is considered will depend on the number of other appeals awaiting consideration, and it may not be heard on the date that it falls into the adjudicators' list. As soon as a decision has been made it will be sent to you and will appear on the Register of appeals.

  • Neither you nor the enforcement authority will be present or represented. The adjudicator will consider all the documentary evidence produced by both parties (you, the appellant and the enforcement authority, the respondent) and will then make a decision based on the evidence before them.

  • If, when considering the evidence, the adjudicator needs either party to provide further details before making a decision, they may adjourn the appeal to a later date.

  • A copy of the adjudicator's decision will then be sent to you.