Fake no parking signs with council and police logo nailed in Newton

Tired of parking problems in Newton, residents on Castle Hill, located just off High Street, have taken matters into their own hands by erecting 'residents only' signs outside every driveway of the cul-de-sac.

The decision has caused uproar in the community, however, as the road is not private land and the residents have doctored council and police badges on to the signs without permission.

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The parking signs have caused a stir in the neighbourhood (Image: St Helens Star)

One resident, on nearby Rob Lane, has described the move by Castle Hill residents as "elitist" and suggested that it could drive people away from the thriving high street in Newton.

He said: "Newton is a great place to live, but you have got to accept that people are going to visit the high street and they might park in front of your house.

"There are lots of parking problems in Newton and I feel for those who can never park outside of their homes, but these people have driveways on a quiet cul-de-sac.

"Actions have consequences in communities. People have started suggesting that they will put parking signs up outside their homes because of this, and then we are left with a high street that suffers.

"It's an elitist mentality. If they get away with this, where does it stop?"

The road has not been granted as a residents only area (Image: St Helens Star)

After numerous reports of the false signage on Castle Hill, St Helens Council and Merseyside Police have confirmed that they have not given permission for their logos to be used.

A police spokesperson said: "These parking signs have not been erected by Merseyside Police or St Helens Council and our enquiries are ongoing to establish who has placed them at this location.

"Castle Hill is a public road and a residents parking scheme is not in place on this street.

"Anyone found using the Merseyside Police logo without permission or inappropriately may be reported to the College of Arms, which is the official heraldic authority for England."

The signs are intended to deter train station commuters from parking on Castle Hill (Image: St Helens Star)

Speaking to a resident of Castle Hill, he said that the signs were not made to punish those using the high street, but to deter commuters from leaving their vehicles before getting the train at Newton-le-Willows station.

Due to its convenient setting on the Liverpool to Manchester line, Newton-le-Willows is now the busiest station in St Helens following its £18m refurbishment in 2018.

The consequence of this, the neighbour said, is that traffic backs up all the way up to High Street most mornings. The large and free car park adjacent to the Mill Lane station often gets full.

Newton-le-Willows station has become the busiest station in St Helens since its refurbishment (Image: St Helens Star)

The Castle Hill resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The parking problems here have been building up for a period of years.

"I don't have a problem with people parking for an hour or so and using the high street, but we have people leaving their cars here all day when they're using the station.

"Sometimes we have seen people lugging suitcases from here to the station, and leaving their car so they can park free for days.

"At times we have had cars parked all the way up the street and blocking people's driveways. We've also had builders who can't get to certain houses, which makes it a health and safety issue.

"I understand that no one has a divine right to park outside of their house, but when cars are blocking your driveway, it's out of order."

A photograph of cars parked along Castle Hill, which are said to block driveways at times (Image: St Helens Star)

With parking issues said to have gotten worse since the refurbishment of the local station, the resident said that all neighbours were in agreement to do something and make a stand.

While acknowledging parking concerna from other Newton residents in Newton, the Castle Hill homeowner placed the onus on the council to come up with a long-term solution.

"We're not being vindictive with this, we all want Newton to thrive", the resident added.

"The signs are all on our property, but if the council [and police] asks us to take their logo off then we will do that, no problem.

"But we want to see a long-term solution to the problem of parking here."

The false parking signs have been nailed to walls along the road (Image: St Helens Star)

St Helens Council has been approached for comment.