Resident challenges Newbury ticketing legality

Andy Needham, who said he was employed as a Civil Enforcement Officer between 2009 and August last year, believes that signs on a stretch along Kings Road in Newbury do not comply with regulations.
Mr Needham, who lives in Newbury, said: “I told them three years ago and I see nothing has been done. Our training told us that for the ‘restricted hours’ parking sign to be valid, it must be accompanied by a single yellow line.
“They have them everywhere else but here. I was told that if people felt unhappy about it, they could appeal.”
He added: “I wonder how many people have been given tickets in that time and how much revenue that has brought the council. I only want a level playing field for motorists - the rules should be enforced fairly.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport, Melanie Purkiss, declined to say specifically whether the sign was invalid or not.
She said in a statement: “The Department provides clear guidelines to councils to help them produce signs that comply with the regulations.”
However, she said she would “not be drawn on specifics”.
Her statement added: “It is not for central Government to police council’s traffic signs - this rightly falls to elected local politicians who are accountable to their residents and communities.”
Department guidelines state that: “Where waiting is prohibited at certain times (eg peak hours) and limited waiting, or waiting by specified classes of user, permitted at other times, a white bay marking should be used with a single yellow line.”
They also state: “Inadequately signed restrictions are likely to be legally unenforceable.”
In response to Mr Needham’s claims, a spokesman for West Berkshire council, Keith Ulyatt, said: “We are aware of the issue and are looking into the signage to see if it conforms with regulations.”