TOWN hall bosses were left red-faced after it was revealed that traffic wardens have been wrongly issuing parking tickets in new residential permit holder areas.

Signs were put in place on October 1 informing drivers that parking on South Street, Entwistle Street and Green Street East in Darwen would only be available to permit holders.

But following complaints from nearby businesses, who were left unable to park, former councillor Simon Huggill looked into the new regulations.

He discovered that Blackburn with Darwen Council had failed to complete the necessary paperwork to ensure the restrictions were enforceable.

Mr Huggill said: “The council has made a pig’s ear of it.

“I came into this after I saw someone having an argument with a traffic warden last week.

“They had been given a ticket for parking at the end of Green St East, but said they did not know it was residential parking as there were no signs at the end of the street.

“A neighbouring business owner showed the warden a copy of the notice that had been sent out by the council which showed that it was not included in the residential area.

“The traffic warden had no idea and asked to take a picture of the notice.

“When I looked into it I found that the council had failed to even make the order so the regulations could not be introduced or enforced.”

Council bosses said the new signs had come in response to complaints from residents who were struggling to park outside their own homes.

Borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “Unfortunately it would seem we have been over enthusiastic trying to support our residents.

“They have had a lot of difficulty with people parking outside their homes.

“We had a petition from the residents in that area asking for residential parking.

“It has been on the top of the pile for a long time and it became even important that we implement the residential parking at the same time as the charges came in on Railway and Atlas Road car park.”

The council posted a public notice yesterday, announcing its intention to trial on street parking to permit holders only in the area.

The order will come into force on November 10.

Cllr Riley said 22 tickets had been issued so far and two have been paid.

He said: “Those who have paid will be refunded and all outstanding tickets have been cancelled.

“If people have been ticketed in error we will refund them.

“No tickets should be handed because of the resident parking scheme until November 10, however we will still be ticketing for other offences such as parking on double yellow lines.”