Council accused of preying on visitors to beauty spot...
Drivers hit with parking fines at Roaches
VISITORS to a popular beauty spot are being hit by parking fines.
One hiker at The Roaches spotted a number of vehicles had been issued with tickets after being left along a roadside verge.
Staffordshire County Council has been accused of not installing proper signage with visitors presuming they are allowed to park on the verge off Roach Road.
One visitor believes a blue ‘P’ sign for parking at marked-out bays metres away from the cleared verge gives ‘the impression the roadside area is intended for cars to park in.’
The area in question is big enough for more than five vehicles. One hiker said yellow ‘restricted parking’ signs had been placed on other embankments and verges around The Roaches – but not this one. He also claims the county council was made aware of the issue nine months ago.
He added: “So far, no action has been taken to protect tourists from being unjustly penalised.”
This month the visitor spotted various cars had been hit with fines.
He said: “A randomly timed visit to Roach Road on May 15 found five vehicles had parking fines on their windscreens at this location, which would generate £300 in parking fines in one go. Upset walkers argued they had ‘no idea’ parking wasn’t allowed at this spot.
“Installing a ‘restricted parking’ sign would be a quick, easy solution. The failure to fix the problem suggests Staffordshire County Council are content to allow the situation to continue and reap the revenue that it generates, while tourists, unaware they’re doing anything wrong, are forced to pay out.”
The council says it will visit the area in question. Councillor David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We are aware of people’s concerns about parking on Roach Road and our highways team will be visiting the area to see if any action is required.”
Meanwhile the AA says that ‘overzealous enforcement’ can be bad for tourism. A spokesman said: “The one thing guaranteed to ruin a holiday or a trip to a tourist destination is an unjust fine.
“For many victims, if their one enduring memory of that tourist destination, is a fine they didn’t deserve, they won’t return.
“That’s bad news for tourism. Bad signage, road markings or layout, faulty or confusing ticket machines and cameras, and over-zealous enforcement are too often the causes.”