District's speeding fines invalid, claims road user

Bucklebury resident Eugene Johnson, aged 57, conducted research into the positioning of speed signs and where they should legally be placed in accordance with official traffic regulation orders after he noticed police speed-monitoring vehicles were parked close to the entrance of Newbury showground on Prior’s Court Road.
He said he found discrepancies between where the 40mph limit begins and the 30mph limit ends on Graces Lane, before it meets with Prior’s Court Road.
“Out of curiosity I checked the traffic order and road markings for this zone and found what seem to be significant irregularities,” he said. “The location of the 40mph zone does not appear to match the detail in the order.”
He claimed that the 40mph sign is located almost 25 metres from the junction with Oxford Road, 25 metres from where the traffic order states it should legally be located.
“I measured the actual distance from the Oxford Road junction to the 30mph sign as 24.6 metres so it’s about 25 metres out,” he said. “Anyone done for doing over 30 at that point would be able to challenge their conviction.”
Thames Valley Police confirmed that if there are discrepancies between the locations of road signs and where they should legally be positioned, as stated in official traffic regulation orders, drivers prosecuted for speeding in that zone may have grounds to appeal.
Traffic management officer for Hampshire and Thames Valley joint operations roads policing specialist unit, Chris Hulme, said: “To avoid the risk of failed prosecutions, it is of the greatest importance that speed limits be signed lawfully.
“There are many reasons [why] some discrepancy in the measurements detailed in the traffic regulation order may be found.
“Any individual has the right to challenge that discrepancy and it would be for a court to decide whether such a discrepancy invalidated that speed limit.”
Mr Johnson added that his research also found discrepancies close to Red Shute Hill in Hermitage, among other areas.
It is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure traffic signs are placed in the correct location.
A spokeswoman for West Berkshire Council, Peta Stoddart-Crompton said: “The council places the signs in accordance with the traffic order, however the police ultimately make the decision to enforce a speed limit or not.
“If the council becomes aware of a discrepancy that may affect enforcement of a speed limit it would inform the police.
“We are already in discussion with the police regarding Graces Lane.”