A BOURNEMOUTH motorist believes hundreds of parking fines should be refunded after he won an argument over inadequate signs.

An official adjudicator ruled the council’s signs at the entrance to a new resident parking zone were not sufficient to warn motorists.

The council’s decision to end one-hour parking at St Stephen’s Road and Durrant Road and create a residents-only zone caught hundreds of motorists unaware.

Over the past eleven months, 766 penalty notices have been issued, generating £21,000 for the council.

Motorists argued the two small signs at the entrance were high and only faced outwards.

Those that appealed on these grounds had their pleas rejected by the council but now a Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudicator has overturned one motorist’s fine on those same grounds.

In a final and binding decision, he said he was not properly satisfied that the signs at the entrance to the road complied with the Secretary of State’s authorisation.

And he said he was also concerned about the lack of any further signs in the road.

The successful motorist, who does not want to be named, said: “This scheme caught a lot of people unaware and now I think the council should refund their money.

“The adjudicator has looked at the facts and decided that the signs were not good enough. That affects everybody.”

Mike Holmes, head of transport, said: “We do not agree with the adjudicator’s decision. “The signage in place is clear and compliant with the legislation and the Penalty Notices was issued correctly. “This case highlights an inconsistent approach from the Adjudication Service, as two other cases were heard earlier this year for this zone and both adjudicators ruled in favour of the cCouncil.

“Clearly there is a difference in opinion between adjudicators and we will be raising this matter with the chief adjudicator.”

The zone was introduced after complaints from residents and people living with the zone pay £100 for their parking permits.