Motorists fined due to parking sign gaffe

Parking is permitted in the town's pedestrian zone before 10:00 and after 16:00 BST

A council has apologised after motorists were fined when the wrong parking signs were put up.

Signs banning parking for 24 hours a day were put up in Spalding town centre – but the actual restrictions should only be in place between 10:00 and 16:00 BST.

Rob Gibson, a Spalding councillor and deputy leader of the Reform UK-led Lincolnshire County Council, told a meeting that the authority had made a "mistake".

Penalty notices were issued to six people but had since been cancelled. Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways, said the problem was being rectified.

On Tuesday, Gibson told a meeting of the Spalding Town Forum that there had been a traffic regulation order (TRO) in place for decades, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"It means no vehicles are allowed to park in the town centre between 10am and 4pm, but it has never really been enforced," Gibson said.

Local resident Charles Grainger says the signage caused "total confusion"

The new signs were put up following a public consultation on enforcing the rules.

However, they should not have stated parking was prohibited at any time.

Ashley Brocklesby, 27, described the blunder as "typical council behaviour".

"It's just not been checked properly," he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Others in the town centre, including Charles Grainger, 66, said it had caused "total confusion".

The council said traffic wardens had correctly issued the penalty notices based upon the signs and TRO.

However, Cassar said the council had now changed the traffic order "in line with the original plan" and with immediate effect.

"No parking enforcement will be carried out before 10am or after 4pm," she added.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices