OK, being generous, one could say that a hard pressed staff have accidentally overlooked this. So is it really cynical to suggest it's being left because they are on the make. However, given the 'oversights' that keep happening in the department responsible, even those who aren't so jaundiced amongst us would be justified in asking what on earth is going on. It would certainly be worth sending an email to your local WBC Councillor and asking. The Councillor could then ask a WBC manager...if he can find one.

more money for Club funds

We've already seen making the parking bays smaller.

OK, being generous, one could say that a hard pressed staff have accidentally overlooked this. So is it really cynical to suggest it's being left because they are on the make. However, given the 'oversights' that keep happening in the department responsible, even those who aren't so jaundiced amongst us would be justified in asking what on earth is going on. It would certainly be worth sending an email to your local WBC Councillor and asking. The Councillor could then ask a WBC manager...if he can find one.

Is GMR just stirring perhaps?

The yellow signs on Newtown Road and in Faraday Road certainly didn't have any dates on them last night. I think they still serve a purpose as they are and remind people in the areas where there aren't ticket machines in place that they need to be aware. They should be kept in place.

I think it's just that they didn't make them bigger!

so that they can pay their top Executives even more bones and wages.

Top dogs, maybe? How long ago was that photo taken, and have you checked that the date is still on there today?

Exactly, that is what they think they are.

How long ago was that photo taken, and have you checked that the date is still on there today? Spartacus says that the dates have been removed from other parking sites in his post.

Is WBC going to give those fines back?

The pictures were taken yesterday (20th Feb/ Friday).

The photos were taken yesterday at about 11.30ish (Friday 20th).

yeah yeah.. yesterday you say... But which YEAR yesterday? hmm?

Computer says NO

If only you'd waited 24 hours you would have saved us from your conspiracy theory nonsense


They're out to get you

If only you'd waited 24 hours you could have saved us from reading all your conspiracy theory nonsense They're out to get you

24 hours after someone reported something was wrong they've fixed it? On a Saturday? Sounds like great service to me.

24 hours after someone reported something was wrong they've fixed it? On a Saturday? Sounds like great service to me.

24 hours after someone reported something was wrong they've fixed it? On a Saturday?

Sounds like great service to me.

A "great service" or fear of allowing this to blow up in their face? That is along with other accusations concerning parking. We also mustn't forget that User23 also works for WBC. A nice defence of their services. They pay you well, do they?

24 hours after someone reported something was wrong they've fixed it? On a Saturday?

Sounds like great service to me.

It would be if it were so - but as usual you twist the facts to try and make WBC look efficient. GMR states that he reported it last year which in my book is nearer 3 months at the least if he reported it on the last day of the year! It may be 24 hours since it went on here but nobody of any worth from WBC reads these forums we are repeatedly told.

WEST Berkshire Council has denied that it delayed replacing parking signs in Newbury to gain extra revenue from unsuspecting motorists.

When the council introduced on street parking charges on July 28 2014, it erected signs informing people that they were due to be implemented.

One of the signs, at Old Bath Road, tells motorists that charges are going to come into effect on July 28 – but doesn't specify which year.

One disgruntled motorist says that keeping the sign up for six months after the charges were introduced has let people people park there in the belief that charges don't come into effect until July 28 2015.

Glenn Renshaw claims he notified the council of the "misleading and unclear" signs in September 2014. However, this week the council said it could find no record of his complaint.

Mr Renshaw, who uses the road every day said: "People in Newbury will probably know that on street parking came in last year, but what about people coming in from outside the area?

"From my understanding, quite a few people have been booked. I think they (the council) should pay back anybody who was booked within that time as a result of the signage.

"Why did it take them until February 2015 to replace the sign?

"There have been many complaints about parking recently and it feels like the council is abusing its position."

Mr Renshaw put a picture of the sign on the NewburyToday forum last week and within 18 hours it was replaced.

A spokeswoman for the council, Peta Stoddart-Crompton, said: "There is no nefarious reason for a year not being shown.

"It was always the intention that the signs would remain in place after the introduction of the parking restrictions and be amended with all reference to the date being removed after about six months.

"The signs were not taken down, as they still serve as a warning of the parking restrictions in place.

"The reference to dates has however been removed from the signs. This was on our task list prior to the forum post so no, it wasn't due to that."

The council said it did not agree with Mr Renshaw's views that the signs were misleading or confusing to motorists and said it would not be compensating motorists who received a ticket.

However, it said all motorists had the right to appeal to the Independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Speaking to the NWN in 2013, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transport, Melanie Purkiss, said: "The Department provides clear guidelines to councils to help them produce signs that comply with the regulations."

"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."

The council has come under fire recently after it was revealed that some of its parking bays were smaller than government guidelines.

Last week, the NWN also revealed that the council had not received hundreds of thousands of pounds owed to them in parking revenue from Parkway developer Standard Life Investments.

It is truly worrying how the Council are unable to grasp just why the signage should have been replaced with a new appropriate sign as soon as the charging had come into force? Just when you thought our local Authorities had reached new lows of incompetence they amaze you with even more feats of idiotic incompetence!

And the reason? The reason being is to mislead those that park there in the belief that it is free until July 28th. Putting a year date on the signs would have informed the public better, thus no extra charges for not having a paid ticket. But doing that would miss the point of the councils objectives; and that is to get more money, by hook or by crook.

That is absolute nonsense and you know it. Even the strongest council detractors here would not say anything so stupid (or possibly actionable, if the council could be bothered).

I don't see anything actionable. I don't think it is that stupid either. Or at least no less stupid that an sign that displays things like 'wef'.

The stupidity is in asserting that the council deliberately left the wef date on the sign (which obviously got overlooked when the others were altered) just so they could trap motorists in order to make money out of them. I am no fan or the council, but it just annoys me when people make ridiculous assertions like this. It was just incompetence on the council's part - not a deliberate act.

The stupidity is in asserting that the council deliberately left the wef date on the sign (which obviously got overlooked when the others were altered) just so they could trap motorists in order to make money out of them. I am no fan or the council, but it just annoys me when people make ridiculous assertions like this. It was just incompetence on the council's part - not a deliberate act.

I agree with you Jeff.
While not acceptable, and those fined should be re-reimbursed, I don't believe that this was done deliberately to fine motorists into swelling the council's coffers.
I have not checked, but surely there must be other signs along this road regarding parking fees?
Council bashing just going a little bit too far??

Oh, and no, I don't work for WBC!!

Nope. Bashing deserved. i.e. Jeff's talking cobblers in my view.

Just read: "While not acceptable, and those fined should be re-reimbursed"

It shouldn't happen in the first place.

Nope. Bashing deserved. i.e. Jeff's talking cobblers in my view.

Also read "I don't believe that this was done deliberately to fine motorists into swelling the council's coffers."
Yes they got it wrong and should be admonished but to suggest it was done in malice is "going a bit too far".

Are you therefore saying that the council deliberately left the partial date on the notice in order to trap motorists? Which is what I said was nonsense, if you care to read my post properly.

Are you therefore saying that the council deliberately left the partial date on the notice in order to trap motorists? Which is what I said was nonsense, if you care to read my post properly.

After the deliberate penalising of motorists after being notified of the incorrect signage months before in Kings Road. After the deliberate penalising of motorists for crossing the wharf bridge
after being informed by a legitimate authority that the signage was not to the required legislation you would have thought that WBC would have inspected all signage promptly to ensure it complied with the current legislation and was up to date and relevant?

Not only have they not ensured this but knowing full well that motorists have been penalised knowing that their signage was totally misleading they are not even offering a refund to those who are prepared to claim one...........what other interpretation can you have other than it appears to be a deliberate revenue raiser?

If you were Managing the signage in Newbury and had articles in national newspapers and local media would you have not ensured that an inspection was carried out to ensure there was no more flack heading your way? Of course not our beloved WBC.....no one held accountable as usual......pocket the money and business as usual.

Just had a roll back through your posts because I have noticed a theme here and, while I am no fan of either council, you really do have issues don't you?
Your sole contribution to this forum is "council bashing"!!
I think you have made your point..............not keen eh?