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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 27 July 2007

William Keegan with the sign

No-parking sign drives motorists up the pole

It’s too small and too high up, protests irate journalist

JOURNALIST William Keegan has launched a campaign over a “small and obscured” no-parking sign near his Barnsbury home.
Mr Keegan, economics editor of the Observer, decided to take action after receiving a parking ticket for leaving his Golf car in Roman Way, near Caledonian Road.
Facing a fine that has now risen from £50 to £100, and despite the threat of legal costs, he intends to take the case to appeal later this year on a point of principle and public interest.
The sign in question warns motorists not to park in the area when there is a football match at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Drivers have complained that they have failed to spot the sign, about eight feet up a pole opposite Offord Road roundabout.
With support from residents, Mr Keegan argues that it was virtually impossible for him to see the sign and that it should be made more visible.
In his case, he had parked his car after 6.30pm on February 16, assuming that normal parking restrictions had finished.
“I knew Arsenal were not playing that night but later discovered there was an international match between Brazil and Portugal,” he said.
“The point is that this is a very complicated roundabout at Offord Road and you have to concentrate on driving safely.
“The sign itself is eight-foot high and tends to be obscured by one’s driving mirror. When you are making important manoeuvres in the road you tend not to strain your head looking up a pole.”
He has written six letters of protest to Islington Council’s parking services department and has had as many replies.
Mr Keegan said: “At no stage have they agreed the sign is not only difficult to see at night – it’s not all that easy to view in daylight.
“I’m not against paying a fine if I have to, but this is a point of principle and in the public interest.
“The council claim they are listening to residents these days. Well, in this case I don’t think they are.”
Irfan Pham, owner of Roma Café Bistro in Roman Way, fully supports Mr Keegan. He said many of his customers had been caught out in a similar way.
“When there’s a match on the council have to come out with a ladder and climb up and change the sign to ‘match day’,” he said.
“But no one looks up there when they park and when they do the sign is so small it’s difficult to know what it says.”
The council insists it has carried out a site check and believes the signage is clear and “compliant with national standards”.

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We will assist with this ticket if someone would like to e-mail me.
www.parkingappeals.co.uk
enquiries@parkingappeals.co.uk
Neil Herron