Sign lights on Park Way bridge were not working fully for weeks

More than 3,000 people have been fined for illegally driving over the bridge since it was changed to a bus, motorcycle and taxi only route late last year. Many people came forward to say that the warning signs were unclear and it later emerged that the signs had not been illuminated by individual lights after dark during certain periods.
The council previously said that it first became aware of the problem on January 31, three days before they were repaired. On February 15, council spokesman Keith Ulyatt said there was only a small window of about three days, starting January 31, when the council was aware that the lights were not working.
The council then took the decision to cancel 110 fines issued for offences which took place after dark during this period.
However, according to information obtained by the Newbury Weekly News under the Freedom of Information Act, the council knew as early as December 9 that there was a problem, when it was discovered on a site visit.
The council’s information management officer, Sue Broughton, said: “On December 7, the council’s highway development control officer responsible for S278 highway works supervision was informed that the illuminated signs remedial works were complete.
“On December 9, he and the council’s street lighting engineer carried out an inspection of the illuminated signs. The highways development control engineer then informed Costain [which is responsible for installing the signs] that the remedials were not complete.”
The council has not yet confirmed whether further fines issued after dark dating back to December 9 will be scrapped.
So far, almost a fifth of the 3,000 people fined have appealed.
West Berkshire Council member for highways and transport, David Betts (Con, Purley-on-Thames), said: “I don’t think there was any deception here. Rather, I suspect that it may be that two different groups of people were concerned.
“While those responsible for issuing the signs may have only become aware of the problem on January 31, the engineers may have been aware of the problem earlier. What the mechanism is for communicating the issues between these two groups, I don’t know.”
The shadow highways and transport member Keith Woodhams (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said: “This is an appalling situation. If the officers knew in December and they were not admitting knowing until late February, then we have to find out why.
“The way this has been handled will have a lasting effect on the trust people living in the area have in the council.”