The Vale of Glamorgan Council is removing the parking signposts they recently installed along Cliff Hill/Road.

A number of residents last week complained that the posts unnecessarily cluttered up the pavement.

In response, Miles Punter (Director of Environment & Housing Services for the Vale of Glamorgan Council) justified the posts, saying:

"Unfortunately, we could not be confident that the old cast iron posts would take the wind loading of the parking signs that are shortly to be installed.

"We are looking to preserve these columns as you know and whilst we would rather not have the additional posts, we considered this a better option than potentially risking catastrophic failure of the historic cast iron units."

Residents were then surprised to see the posts being removed yesterday and this morning.

The parking signs - which depict the new restrictions (no return within two hours and no overnight parking for motor caravans or campervans) - have now been affixed to the cast iron posts afterall.

In an email to Anne Evans from the Penarth Civic Society, a Vale of Glamorgan Officer explained the change of heart:

"The size of the signs able to be used for the parking controls are, it turns out, relatively small in size and lightweight.

"A visual assessment of the column condition and the height, size and weight of the sign faces suggests that they should not cause a problem to the columns if mounted just above head height.

"Therefore I have arranged for the posts to be removed this week and for the signs to be relocated to the nearest lamp columns."

Anne replied: "I am delighted that the Council are removing these poles and that the signs are being placed on the lampposts.

"Hopefully, next time there is a similar issue the council will discuss it with residents first."