News from: Reading Borough Council
The council is sincerely apologising and appealing to motorists who may have paid penalty charge notices (PCN) which were incorrectly issued for parking contraventions in certain parts of Reading. The council has discovered that the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on sections of the East Reading Red Route and some parking restrictions in other locations are unenforceable. Drivers who have paid penalties for parking on them will therefore be reimbursed.
A total of 6,136 PCNs were incorrectly issued and paid primarily between July 2018 and 2024, however, some date back to 2013. The council is asking motorists who believe they received and paid one of these penalties to visit the apply for a parking fine refund page from Wednesday 16 October to claim their reimbursement.
For those motorists that have been subject incorrectly to a debt recovery process, the council will contact individuals directly informing them that they are eligible for repayments with interest and advising how the repayment will be made.
The errors in the various TROs came to light when a member of staff reported a defect on the East Reading Red Route. A wider investigation was then launched to review whether there were further issues with TROs and a small number were found to be incorrect.
There are five TRO areas where motorists were incorrectly issued with PCNs. Errors were found on a further four but these did not impact motorists in the same way. A report seeking approval for statutory consultation to correct all nine TRO areas was presented to the council on Tuesday 15 October.