Cambridgeshire County Council has scaled back enforcement after on-street checks identified issues with the clarity and placement of signs in the Milton Road Resident Parking Scheme

Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing how parking enforcement on streets around Milton Road in Cambridge has been scaled back. It comes after council checks revealed that some parking signs were either unclear or incorrectly positioned.

Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed that on-street inspections have uncovered problems with “the clarity and placement” of certain signs connected to the Milton Road Resident Parking Scheme. The scheme’s original design sought to reduce the number of signs, particularly along longer stretches of road with multiple marked bays.

The authority has acknowledged that a marked bay lacking the necessary upright signage could be interpreted by motorists as an unrestricted parking area. On-street inspections have since confirmed that this approach has caused confusion in certain locations.

The parking scheme covers approximately 27 roads within the Milton area of Cambridge. It requires residents to pay for permits costing between £35 and £105 per year in order to park in that part of the city.

A notice published on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website stated: “The County Council is carrying out a detailed ground survey to identify where additional signage is required and where changes to existing signage are needed to improve clarity and legal compliance.

“This may include installing new signs, as well as moving, replacing, removing or updating existing signs to ensure correct spacing and that the correct restrictions are clearly displayed. This work will ensure the scheme is clear, consistent and fully enforceable. At this stage, the Council is not able to provide a definitive timeline for completion.

“While this work is being completed, the scheme cannot be fully enforced in all areas. During this period, enforcement will be limited to double yellow lines and single yellow lines during their signed hours of operation.”

The announcement prompted a fierce response from readers in our comments section. One reader, Calumen Nomen comments: “Can’t these out-of-their-depth placeholders do anything right? Really, it’s about time prospective councillors, etc., were given tests for basic economic literacy and management before they are allowed to take office. Wasting everyone else’s time and money like this should be a crime – or a sackable offence at the very least.”

Brexit498 adds: “Now is a good time to remind people that at the farcical consultation, 76 per cent objected to the scheme/scam. ‘Once the scheme meets all legal requirements, residents will be invited to apply for permits again.’ For most, it’s not an invite, it’s a compulsion.”

Skipper says: “The council already extorts unbelievably large sums of money from people in the form of taxes. It is completely unreasonable that it should be able to extort additional sums from residents or visitors to park their cars.”

Freddly feels: “One strongly suspects that drivers were well aware of the new regulations, but of course, happy to find a loophole. However, I don’t have a problem with the refunds. ‘Once the scheme meets all legal requirements, residents will be invited to apply for permits again.’ The cost of a permit should, in the meantime, increase to reflect the increased cost of infrastructure related to the scheme.”

Rhodabike writes: “Yet another mess up from the Milton Road ‘improvements’. Added to the overspending, overrunning, increased journey times for all users, excessive traffic lights, unsuitable materials, mismanaged consultations, poor drainage, shoddy workmanship (potholes are already forming), and various other issues. Is there a single part of this scheme that the council/GCP actually got right?”

Hoopoe says: “This was the fault of the GCP, who were granted a huge amount of our money. This self-congratulating bunch were responsible for the ridiculous and totally unnecessary roundabout and the changes to parking outside the shops on Milton Road. Histon Road, another of their improvements, already has problems with two drain covers which are sinking.”

Have you been caught out by the unclear signage? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.