Motorists appeal for money back
AROUND a hundred angry motorists are making costly claims against the council in the wake of the parking ticket fiasco.
Wakefield Council’s transport chief, Ian Wiper, admitted the department had overlooked notifications relating to new rules on parking signs, which were sent out back in 2005.
As a result, some signs failed to meet legal criteria and parking tickets handed out may be null and void.
One fault on the signs included the letter P being slightly smaller than it should have been.
This flaw could now cost taxpayers 4,000. Motorists have already made 80 claims, with more expected during coming months.
Mr Wiper, interim service director for transportation and highways service, was brought before the local economy overview and scru-tiny committee on Wednesday.
He said: “From 2005, new signs came into effect for on-street car parking. We weren’t aware of that notification as it came in with a bunch of others and for whatever reason we were not initially aware of that. When we did realise we took action and put them into play during the summer.
“Some signs still had technical problems like the ‘P’ on them was three inches wide and not four. This was picked up by some motorists. There was no confusion as the sign was still clear, but it was a technicality as it was too small.
“We went out a couple of weeks ago straight after it was in the press and surveyed signs. We are rectifying it and as we speak today, amending it all.”
Councillor Laurie Harrison, chairman of the committee, asked how many tickets were handed out during the period concerned.
Mr Wiper added: “It is a substantial number of cases, but only 80 people have come forward. We haven’t given a time limit and my aim is to get this problem rectified.
“If there’s a hundred claims of 40 we are looking at a worst case of 4,000 being paid out. All cases will be looked at on their own merit.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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