From 60 minutes to an hour... confusion over parking signs

THERE is bemusement in Bangor after parking signs in the town that previously stated drivers could park for up to “60 minutes” were changed to limit parking for up to “1 hour”.

People living in the Co Down town have been left puzzled by the change when the signs mean the same thing, the BBC reported.

The change was part of £8m public works taking place in Bangor, although it is understood the replacement of the four signs has cost less than £100.

One Bangor driver told the BBC she didn’t think the sign was worth updating.

“I think probably if they wanted to improve the sign in any way, they could have made it bigger but kept the information the same — it’s a waste of money,” she said.

Terence Malcolm from the North Down and Ards Road Safety Committee called the change confusing.

“I’m really at a loss. I always thought an hour was 60 minutes

The old parking sign and (right) the new road signs

but, seemingly, now it’s an hour in High Street,” he said. “I have no idea why they changed them, somebody told me a change in the legislation was coming.”

A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure explained the wording of the signs was changed to better reflect the legislation.

Alan Chambers, the Ulster Unionist MLA for North Down, accused the department of being “foolish” with their budget and deliberately prioritising useless odd jobs.

“I’m in the middle of a bun fight with the department over this,” he said.

“I think they’ve done some sort of review to look at every

sign in the borough and if they don’t fit current terminology they change them.

“There’s also a small country road near Orlock and they put up about 10 national speed limit signs, even though there’s been nothing there since 1996.

“But where are they getting the money for them when they can’t fix the potholes in the road or clear leaves that cause flooding.

“You do get a sense at this time of the year there’s a clamour to spend whatever they have left.

“They don’t want to be seen to do any major schemes as they get asked questions. But they’re just trying to drip feed and spend money foolishly to get rid of it.”