Council insist Marlow parking restrictions are correct (From Bucks Free Press)

Council insist Marlow parking restrictions are correct

7:30am Friday 14th August 2009 in Marlow By James Nadal

COUNCIL bosses have insisted that parking restrictions in Marlow were checked and were found to be correct before it took over responsibility from the police.

Ex-highways officer Brian Hooper from Bisham who used to work for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council has challenged the validity of many parking bays in and around the town centre.

A survey carried out in April 2006 by RTA Associates found that out of 93 different parking restrictions checked in Marlow and Princes Risborough, only 51 were enforceable.

It showed that many signs and lines were unenforceable because of errors in lengths, waiting times or due to poor quality.

Wycombe District Council took over enforcement powers in October 2008 from Thames Valley Police.

WDC spokesman Catherine Spalton said: “Our understanding is that the county council originally instructed RTA associates to survey the district, cross checking lines and signs as per the original Traffic Regulation Orders.

“The county council then instructed contractors to correct any errors that were found, prior to the commencement of the district wide civil enforcement area.

The spokesman said: “We checked that the lines were as the map-based traffic regulation orders - the technical aspects of measurements for lining and signing are specialised skills undertaken by qualified highway engineers at the county council and they confirmed to us that the technical specifics of lines were correct.”

She added any other faults “ due to road repairs, utility company works, or even signs knocked over or stolen” are corrected “as soon as they become apparent.”

The council said any penalty charge notice is always investigated if it has been contested.