Council road sign blunder hurts Jesmond business

Dec 22 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

BLUNDERING council chiefs replaced road signs outside a street of shops which prevented customers from parking there.

Traders in Clayton Road, Jesmond, were stunned when permit holder only notices were erected outside their businesses in what they described as the busiest week of the year.

Previously road traffic signs allowed shoppers to park there for up to two hours.

Garry Williams, owner of Williams and Brown Jewellers, said that businesses had suffered as customers had been unable to park.

Newcastle City Council have admitted the error and apologised to the shopkeepers.

Mr Williams said: “They just decided to come out and change the signs which were already in place.

“Then they came back and took down the signs when they realised that they had put up the wrong ones.

“It’s not very humorous for the traders, retail has been massively hit by the credit crunch.

“The council spending massive amounts of money on putting up incorrect signs is an absolute disgrace.”

Mr Williams added: “Trade has been ruined by the council’s stupidity. I’m absolutely livid, it doesn’t help business at all.

“They will never be able to put them up before Christmas, it’s ludicrous and pretty inconsiderate. Everyone is annoyed because we pay our rates.”

Newcastle City Council said it was currently replacing around 5,000 road signs across the city in the run up to it taking over responsibility for parking enforcement from the police early in the new year.

A spokesman added: “Unfortunately as part of the work the wrong signs were installed on Clayton Road which restricted parking to permit holders only.

“As soon as we became aware of this we covered up the signs until the correct ones are installed, which will be within the next few days.

“We are genuinely sorry to all the traders involved.”