Process to rectify errors in Traffic Regulation Orders due to start

The process to correct errors discovered in nine Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) around Reading is due to begin shortly.

Statutory consultations will be held for each of the TROs in the coming weeks before they can be put in place.

The Council has apologised for errors in five of the TROs which meant that around 6,140 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were incorrectly issued, and motorist who received and paid the PCNs are still able to claim reimbursement via the Council’s website (see below). The errors on the other four TROs did not affect the validity of any PCNs issued.

TROs are legal orders made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which provide the legal backing for the enforcement of road and traffic management schemes such as speed limits, vehicle access restrictions and parking controls.

A meeting of the Council on 15 October agreed a rectification process whereby the nine orders affected will be corrected and readvertised in phases, starting with the East Reading Red Route.

The statutory consultation process requires the Council to advertise a simplified version of the TRO in local newspapers, on notices in the street and on the Council’s website. Members of the public then have 21 days to make comments, which are then considered before a decision is made on implementing the orders.

All nine TROs will be advertised over the coming weeks on the Council’s consultation website at: https://reading.govocal.com/en-GB/.

A process has also been put in place to allow motorists who believe they received and paid a PCN which was incorrectly issued to claim their money back. The affected PCNs were issued primarily between July 2018 and 2024 on a section of the East Reading Red Route and four other areas (listed below).

Motorists who were incorrectly subject to a debt recovery service have already been contacted by the Council to arrange reimbursement. Others who believe they are entitled to a refund should follow the process on the Council’s website at: https://www.reading.gov.uk/vehicles-roads-and-transport/parking/fines-and-penalty-charge-notices/apply-for-a-parking-fine-refund/.

Jackie Yates, Chief Executive of Reading Borough Council, said:

“Following the discovery of errors on nine Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) earlier this year it was important that a process was put in place as quickly as possible to address them. That process means that statutory consultations will be carried out for each TRO over the coming weeks.

“Any motorists who believe they paid incorrectly issued Penalty Charge Notices and have not yet acted, should visit the Council websites and follow the process for claiming reimbursement.”

A report on the Traffic Regulation Order rectification process is being presented to the Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee on Wednesday 27 November and can be found at: https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=170&MId=5470.