Man fined for parking in Newark calls for signs to be made clearer for motorists
A man who won his parking fine appeal after four attempts is calling for signs to be made clearer.
Ben Brough, of Southwell, was fined after parking on Castlegate in Newark in January and has now won his appeal.
Mr Brough had parked in an on-street bay on one side of the street, and then, when his time limit ran out, moved to another bay on the opposite side of the road.
He said: “The parking sign says no return within two hours but it doesn’t tell you where.
“I left the parking space after three-quarters of an hour and then parked on the other side of the road — then I got a parking ticket.”
Mr Brough challenged the £50 fine from Newark and Sherwood District Council four times, and won, based on government guidance from 2018 that states road signs should be clear and unambiguous.
The signs on Castlegate do not specify that the no return within two hours rule applies to the street as a whole.
“I challenged it because I think that visitors to Newark have no chance whatsoever of realising that the no return means no return to the street,” Mr Brough said.
“It only requires the three words ‘on the street’ and everyone will be clear.
“They knew that the sign wasn’t unambiguous but they just weren’t going to do anything about it.”
He is now calling for the signs to be changed to avoid people being hit with fines when they believe they have complied with parking restrictions.
Keith Girling, deputy leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Tickets are issued to those who are in breach of parking signage. While Nottinghamshire County Council manages on-street carparking and the signage around the district, I am aware that many residents are frustrated by the few who park in contravention to signage or without paying and our traffic wardens work to ensure that everyone parks correctly.
“If anyone is issued with a ticket, the appeal process is there to help if required.”
Gareth Johnson, parking and enforcement manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Castlegate has short-stay bays that are intended to be used by shoppers visiting the area.
“These short-stay bays support local businesses by providing accessible and convenient parking for their customers.
“The county council enforces these spaces to encourage motorists not to overstay — giving all visitors the opportunity to park and shop.
“The parking restriction signs we use across the county and on the parking bays along Castlegate, are defined in law by the Department for Transport and they are therefore standard throughout not only Newark and Nottinghamshire, but also the whole country.
“If a motorist feels that parking signs are insufficiently clear at the time they received a penalty charge notice, or there are other mitigating circumstances, as was the case with this particular appeal, then we are always willing to listen.
“We consider all appeals on individual circumstances and as seen in this case, we are happy to cancel a ticket when sensible and appropriate to do so.”
