A project to paint new double yellow lines in Earley has been branded “a fiasco” after cars were lifted up so the lines could be painted – and then slapped with parking fines.

Double yellow lines were painted by contractors on Sunday, November 29.

In order to put the paint down, contractors Volkers Highways used equipment to lift cars in the way and paint underneath them as part of the double yellow line project in Blackthorn Close.

However, soon after the road was painted, the cars that were parked in the area were slapped with parking fines.

The affair has been described as a ‘fiasco’ and a ‘debacle’ by councillor Shirley Boyt, who lives nearby.

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Cllr Boyt (Labour, Bulmershe & Whitegates) has urged Wokingham Borough Council to rescind any of the parking fines issued and apologise to the drivers.

She said: “The council have said it was a coincidence, but I think someone tipped off the parking wardens.

“It’s like a trick has been played on them.

“It’s been abysmal. Recently painters came round to do double yellow lines in Anderson Avenue, which is just across the road.

“Then two days later the road was resurfaced, which erased the new paint.

“You couldn’t make it up. The whole thing has been a debacle.

“The residents can’t believe what they’ve done.”

Cllr Boyt offered to put notices on the cars warning drivers of the change, but the council declined her offer.

An image supplied by a neighbour shows the contractors using a vehicle with a forklift to hoist the cars up.

 

Reading Chronicle: Evidence of the cars being lifted so that the double yellow lines could be painted in Blackthorn Close, Earley. Credit: Don BarwickEvidence of the cars being lifted so that the double yellow lines could be painted in Blackthorn Close, Earley. Credit: Don Barwick

Although neighbours have welcomed the double yellow lines as a way to deter rogue parkers , Cllr Boyt said notices should have been sent out and road projects in the area need to be coordinated better.

A spokesperson for the council has since apologised and said that the council will work to get the fines revoked.

The spokesperson said: “We are sorry for this situation.

“This incident was caused by an unfortunate coincidence that our parking enforcement contractors happened to be in the area shortly after the double yellow lines had been painted.

“We have different contractors for painting the lines and for parking enforcement.

“For those people who received a parking fine and have not already challenged it, please contact us by emailing parkingservices@wokingham.gov.uk and we will work with you to cancel it.

“We entirely accept they have been issued in error.

“We are sorry this happened and want to apologise to everyone who has been affected.

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“Residents in Blackthorn Close had requested the double yellow lines and our contractors have been out previously to paint them but had been unable to because of parked cars.

“Cones were meant to be put out in advance to prevent cars parking on the area to be painted.

“We have been informed by our contractor today that on this occasion, they did not put the cones out.

“We will be taking this up with our contractor and reviewing our internal processes to ensure this does not happen again.

“We are very sorry that parking fines have been issued in this case.”