Caught in a ‘malicious trap’ claims driver fined on street with no signage
A DRIVER who got a fine after parking in a permit holders only zone in Loughborough has slammed the lack of signage in the area, calling it a “malicious trap”.
Catherine Holmes parked in Lisle Street for around 20 minutes while she went to get a takeaway drink from a nearby coffee shop.
She usually parks in another area of the town and walks along the canal when she visits the café.
Ms Holmes returned to her car and was shocked to find she had been given a ticket, despite there being no signs on Lisle Street itself to indicate the requirement of a permit to park there.
The parking signs are at the top of Edward Street and Grange Street, off the A6 Derby Road, which you have to drive down to access Lisle Street.
They are set back from the junction with Derby Road and Ms Holmes said you could easily miss them as you turned off the main road.
All three streets are part of the permit parking zone.
She said: “The Leicestershire County Council enforcement relies on signs which a motorist passes on a previous street 4-500 yards away, indicating the area as a “permit holders only” zone, and which they say conform with legislation and regulations.
“Yet they provide much clearer signage in other “permit holders only” areas in Loughborough, e.g. Beacon Road and Colgrove Road areas.”
Ms Holmes added: “I am from a consumer law background where I have always fought for clear information being available to the public.
“Why wouldn’t Leicestershire County Council put clear signs on Lisle Street explaining that it is part of a permit holders only area? Surely informing the drivers would assist the scheme itself and so help the residents?
“The obvious and only answer is that this is a malicious trap set to catch out innocent law-abiding motorists.
“In other areas of life this is called a scam and is illegal.”
She said she would have been happy to park somewhere else if she knew of the restrictions.
The fine was for £70, which was reduced to £35 as Ms Holmes paid it within the set time limit.
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire County Council said: “We are aware of the concerns of Mrs Holmes. We reviewed the signage as part of an amended scheme which was introduced last year to create additional residential-only parking.”
The changes to the scheme included removing parking space box markings, to provide more room for motorists to park up.
The spokeswoman said: “There are signs on both sides of the road at the entrance to the permit zone via Lisle Street.
“They are set back from the junction to help being seen. No other signage is needed on the road itself, according to the regulations, as the signs which are in place are the correct ones to allow the restrictions to be enforced.”
This is a malicious trap set to catch out innocent law-abiding motorists. In other areas of life this is called a scam and is illegal Catherine Holmes