I call on the Government to increase regulations relating to parking signs to require councils to ensure they are made clearer and have clauses about what to do if there is, for example, an incorrect pay station in between the sign & the correct one.
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We believe that the current rules, which we feel are incredibly vague, mean councils can say their sign meets the guidelines, even if there are factors that may make the sign misleading. We believe that if the rules were more in depth and accounted for possible problems, councils would be forced to take responsibility for their misleading signage.
Monday 11th August 2025
Local authorities manage parking signs and machines and appeals are possible. The Government sees no need to change current sign regulations.
Traffic signs for use on roads in England are already regulated through the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. This includes those indicating parking bays and directions to payment machines.
Local authorities (LAs) are responsible for provision of on-street parking, including placement of payment machines and associated signing. It is for them to ensure that there is no ambiguity as to which payment machine relates to the parking bays in question.
The Department for Transport (DfT) publishes good practice guidance for local authorities in the Traffic Signs Manual. Advice on signing payment machines, including how to ensure drivers are directed to the correct machine where there is more than one, is given in Chapter 3 of the Manual, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual.
There is an appeal mechanism for drivers to use if they feel have been given a ticket unfairly. They can appeal to the local authority in the first instance, and ultimately to an independent adjudicator. The adjudicator may take into account the condition and placement of signs and the relevant guidance when considering appeals.
The Government believes that LAs are best placed to understand adequate sign placement for individual sites as they have detailed knowledge of their roads and the needs of residents and businesses.
The Government’s view is that the current Regulations covering parking restriction signs are adequate and has no current plans to make any changes.
Department for Transport