Council amending traffic orders that led to parking fines

Work to correct inaccurate legal orders that led to the issuing of thousands of invalid parking fines is set to start.

Reading Borough Council said statutory consultations to correct nine Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) would take place over the coming weeks - five of which led to invalid fines being issued.

The council apologised in October after finding it had incorrectly issued 6,136 penalty charge notices (PCNs) between 2013 and 2024.

Motorists who received and paid the PCNs are still able to claim reimbursement via the council's website, according to chief executive Jackie Yates.

The authority previously confirmed to the BBC that they may have to reimburse approximately £357,000 to those affected.

The council said it had already contacted motorists who had been incorrectly subject to a debt recovery service.

TROs are legal orders, made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which provide legal backing for the enforcement of rules like speed limits, vehicle access restrictions and parking controls.

The mistakes with the TROs were first spotted by the authority after a staff member reported a defect earlier this year.

On 15 October, the council agreed a rectification process whereby the nine orders affected would be corrected and re-advertised in phases.

As part of the consultation process, the council must advertise a simplified version of the TRO in local newspapers, on notices in the street and on the council's website, and members of the public have 21 days to make comments.

The council said the affected areas were:

• The Red Route East including Kings Road from its junction with Watlington Street to Cemetery Junction, Wokingham Road and partially into adjoining streets such as Queens Road and London Road
• Waldeck Street Resident Permit Parking and Swainstone Road Resident Permit Parking scheme
• Red Route West - Tilehurst and West Reading
• Southcote Verge and Footway Parking ban area, including the whole lengths of Southcote Lane, Ashampstead Road, Brunel Road, Circuit Lane, Frilsham Road, Gainsborough Road and Virginia Way
• Tilehurst and Kentwood Verge and Footway Parking ban area, including Church End Lane, Lower Elmstone Drive, Mayfair, Norcot Road, Oak Tree Road, Overdown Road, Park Lane, Recreation Road, School Road, The Meadway and Westwood Road

The East Reading Red Route would be the first to be consulted on, the council said.

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