Reading Borough Council to Rectify Traffic Orders After Invalid Parking Fines

The process to correct erroneous legal orders, which resulted in the issuance of thousands of invalid parking penalties, is scheduled to commence. Reading Borough Council announced that statutory consultations aimed at rectifying nine Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are planned for the upcoming weeks; five of these orders were responsible for the invalid fines. The council issued an apology in October, following its discovery that 6,136 penalty charge notices (PCNs) had been erroneously issued between the years 2013 and 2024. Chief executive Jackie Yates stated that drivers who received and settled these PCNs retain the option to seek reimbursement through the council’s official website. The authority had previously confirmed to the BBC its potential obligation to refund approximately £357,000 to the individuals impacted. The council also indicated that it had already reached out to drivers who were mistakenly subjected to debt recovery procedures. Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) constitute legal directives, established under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which underpin the lawful enforcement of regulations such as speed limits, restrictions on vehicle access, and parking management. The errors within the TROs were initially identified by the authority after a staff member brought a defect to attention earlier in the current year. A rectification process was approved by the council on October 15, stipulating that the nine affected orders would undergo correction and subsequent re-advertisement in stages. The consultation procedure mandates that the council publicize a simplified version of the TRO in local newspapers, via street notices, and on its official website, allowing members of the public a 21-day period to submit their observations. The council specified the areas impacted as follows: According to the council, the East Reading Red Route is designated as the initial area for consultation.