Fuming residents put up fake 'no parking' signs to stop drivers blocking road

30 August 2023 , 14:04

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Castle Hill residents have resorted to putting up fake signs (Image: Rachel Howarth)

Fuming residents caused outage when they got so sick of dodgy parking they put up fake "no parking" signs – complete with police and council logos.

In a classic case of neighbourhood drama, residents of Castle Hill in Newton-le-Willows have sparked controversy by erecting fake 'no parking' signs, complete with counterfeit police and council logos. The locals claim they've "had enough" of thoughtless parking obstructing access to their homes.

Taking the law into their own hands, these frustrated residents have put up 'residents only' parking signs outside their driveways, embellished with unauthorised Merseyside Police and St Helens Council insignia.

The audacious move has caused quite a stir in the community, with some labelling their neighbours as 'elitist'. In response to the uproar, some signs have been taken down, and the police and council logos have been scrubbed off the remaining ones.

Despite the backlash, many residents are standing firm. One woman, who has opted to keep her sign up, said: "We've been plagued with cars on this road for a long, long time. We had one couple leave their car and just go off to Spain. The signs have been brilliant though, we haven't seen our road like this ever."

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Locals claim they've "had enough" of thoughtless parking obstructing access to their homes (Rachel Howarth)

Another resident, preferring to stay anonymous due to recent criticism, expressed support for the initiative, saying: "We thought it was a brilliant idea. We thought it would deter people unfamiliar with the area who leave their cars and head to the station, sometimes even flying off and leaving their vehicles for a week. They park right across the drive sometimes."

In a dramatic turn of events, a local resident had to call the police to tow a car blocking their driveway while rushing their mother to the hospital. The ordeal lasted two gruelling hours.

"The signs have caused so much trouble but they did work," said the resident, referring to controversial parking signs that were believed to be authorised by the council and police.

However, when it was discovered that there was no such permission, the signs were promptly removed. Residents argue that these signs were a desperate measure to prevent motorists from obstructing driveways. One resident even reported instances of ambulances being unable to access the street due to irresponsible parking.

"A few years ago, before we got double yellow lines further down, they used to park on both sides. There was an ambulance who couldn't get up to my dad who had collapsed," one resident shared. "They had to park up on the church (at the end of street) and walk up."

The resident also recounted a recent incident where a recycling van was trapped for hours due to poor parking. "When people have stopped me and asked if they can park there, I say 'I can't stop you'."

Following complaints about the unauthorised use of the force's logo on the signs, residents were visited by PCSOs who requested the removal of the signs. While all logos have been taken down, some residents continue to display 'residents only' parking placards on their drives or boundary walls.

Merseyside Police and St Helens Council have denied any involvement in the erection of controversial parking signs. A spokesperson for the police stated: "These parking signs have not been erected by Merseyside Police or St Helens Council and our enquiries are ongoing to establish who has placed them at this location."

The signs, which have appeared on Castle Hill, a public road without a resident's parking scheme, have sparked outrage among locals. The police spokesperson warned that "Anyone found using the Merseyside Police logo without permission or inappropriately may be reported to the College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for England."

Despite the uproar, believed to be caused by people using Newton High Street and the train station, the council has clarified that these signs with or without logos - hold no legal weight.

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A representative from St Helens Borough Council reiterated: "There is no residents only parking scheme in this area and the signs are not enforceable. Drivers are able to park here the same as other residential areas, responsibly and legally, with consideration to the accessibility of residents, pedestrians and emergency vehicles."

The placards have stirred up a wave of anger within the community. One disgruntled resident took to Facebook to vent their frustration, stating: "Pure elitism at its best with little respect for the rest of the community." Another added: "Brilliant to see when I've just been driving up and down Mercer Street for 20 minutes trying to find a space after a 12-hour shift. You'd think nowhere but Castle Hill has parking issues."

* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Abigail Nicholson