FEATURE SIGN SOLUTIONS
wrong, in our opinion, to allow free use of signs that could be misinterpreted, misconstrued or poorly understood by traffic engineers and motorists alike – as this will only lead to further problems with proper and effective enforcement.’ Traore added: ‘Te DfT needs to give proper and
effective advice and guidance to highway authorities about the use of the new signs to ensure that they are used in accordance with situations that have been tried and tested and where there is little or no doubt that they are effective in those situations. Given that a fundamental review of the regulations is underway, where there is some doubt about the use of some signs that are presently subject to special authorisation, these examples might be withheld from general use pending the outcome of the full review.’ Te current review should improve the way
Signposting confusion... an array of signs at Heworth, near York.
information is communicated to road users. However, there is still a danger that signs will be put up that are confusing, or that deliberately set out to mislead. Also, some people will make every attempt to misconstrue them to avoid paying PCNs or will use them as a way of justifying their actions. Another challenge the car parking industry faces
The doctor versus the council
Scooter rider fails to have fines lifted after parking on what he thought was private property
According to a blog site called Nutsville, scooter owner Dr Richard Dawood has had an eight-year battle with Camden Council about parking his scooter on his own private land in Cleveland Street, London. This street is on the border between Westminster and Camden. Dr Dawood put up a sign stating that the land was private and that only authorised parking was allowed. But, as Dr Dawood discovered, he did not have the right to park there either. Although the land was part of Dr Dawood’s property, access laws dictate that parking is not allowed there as it is effectively part of the pavement. Camden Council said: ‘A number of parking tickets were issued to Dr Dawood’s scooter as he regularly contravened parking restrictions by parking on the footpath. ‘Shortly after we started issuing the parking tickets to
Dr Dawood, we sent him a letter giving an explanation of matters and cancelled the first few tickets as a gesture of goodwill, giving Dr Dawood an opportunity to find an alternative place to park.’ The council continued: ‘We advised him that there is a motorcycle bay (free of charge) that is only a few metres from the location where Dr Dawood parked his scooter. Unfortunately he continued to park his scooter on the footpath, causing an obstruction, and therefore he continued to receive parking tickets.’
www.britishparking.co.uk
A free motorcycle bay is only a few metres away from where Dr Dawood parked his scooter.
Dr Dawood appealed the tickets, but the appeal was refused by the independent parking and traffic appeals service (PATAS). Dr Dawood disagreed with the adjudicator’s decision and made an application for a judicial review at the High Court. This review was also unsuccessful and the judge ruled that the scooter was parked on the public footpath.
APRIL 2010
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