MOTORIST Drew Thomas has labelled Wiltshire Council farcical after being handed a fine for parking on yellow lines that the authority has admitted were painted in error.

Mr Thomas, of Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, complained to the council after its highways contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places reinstated old yellow lines while resurfacing Westbourne Road in March.

He said the lines had been removed four years earlier, but despite convincing the council the markings were incorrect, they still remain in place four months later with the word ‘remove’ painted by them.

To make matters worse, residents parking on the incorrectly painted yellow lines have still been receiving fines – even though the council told Mr Thomas that it would inform the parking enforcement officer that any tickets would be unenforceable.

“It is absolutely farcical,” said Mr Thomas, who lives with his partner Mark. “I know I’m right, they know I’m right and yet this has been going on for several months now and it is driving me mad.

“It started in March when Balfour Beatty painted lines that were previously removed about four years ago to give residents some parking spaces. They must have followed the old plans, so I contacted the council.

“The first reply I got was essentially ‘tough luck’ but the letter was talking about Gloucester Road when the issue was with Westbourne Road. They then said it was a mistake and the lines would be taken up shortly.

“However, the lines haven’t been taken up and now they are issuing tickets to people who are parking on the lines, even though these tickets are not enforceable and shouldn’t be given out.”

Mr Thomas said he saw the warden put his ticket on his car and approached him with the letter from the council confirming that the lines were incorrectly painted – expecting the ticket to be cancelled.

However, the 47-year-old recently received a letter saying he owes £60 because he did not pay the fine within 28 days. Mr Thomas added that one of his neighbours has received three tickets for parking on the lines – with two of those already thrown out on appeal.

“When I stopped the parking warden and showed him the letter I expected that to be the end of the matter and for Wiltshire Council to cancel the ticket,” said Mr Thomas.

“Yet I am still being pursued for the parking fine, even though the council have told me the double yellows are not enforceable. I haven’t even opened the parking ticket as all these people should know it is not enforceable.

“I’m just so fed up with it all. I have not bothered challenging the ticket, as I shouldn’t have to spend the time and effort doing it when they have admitted the lines are wrong. It has just been a complete mess from start to finish.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: "We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused and will ensure the issue is rectified as soon as possible.”