BBC Politics Show ...

The BBC Politics Show discloses the advice from leading traffic law expert Stephen Sauvain QC which highlighted the failings of Scarborough and other North Yorkshire CPZs. This 'advice' also indicates that monies taken from motorists in areas where the signage is non-compliant must be refunded.

To date, the Department for Transport refused to make this advice available to the High Court in the case of Herron v The Parking Adjudicator but now that this information has been made public and the decision in the Moss case explicitly reaffirms the requirement for signs to strictly comply with the law then hopefully this will put an end to the nonsense spouted by some councils and adjudicators the a sign is okay if 'no reasonable person could be misled.'

Our sources say that a great deal of panic has ensued in many town halls from officers fearing that their continued enforcement of known non-compliant signage may well result in a visit and an investigation. The first court case for misconduct in public office is listed in Exeter for February. May I be so bold as to suggest that this will not be the last?

Freedom of Information Request from DfT in relation to Scarborough's CPZ

This is the Freedom of Information request from former Police Officer Richard Bentley to the Department for Transport and the response from Ian Boddington.

In the public interest it has been reproduced in exactly the same format as it was provided by the DfT.

The only information 'missing' is believed to be the FIRST advice provided to Scarborough and North Yorkshire Councils from Stephen Sauvain QC. This advice was shared with Government officials and is understood to condemn councils who had not complied with the strict definition of a Controlled Parking Zone.

The DfT has refused to disclose this evidence to the High Court.


DfT FOI & Additional Evidence 1