Five tickets bought at the Harbour Road machine by one Seabrook motorist this year have been checked against the calendar. Each gives the right day and the right month. Each gives the year as 2011.
| Bought | Dated by the machine |
|---|---|
| Saturday 3 January 2026 | 3 January 2011 |
| Saturday 17 January 2026 | 17 January 2011 |
| Saturday 24 January 2026 | 24 January 2011 |
| Saturday 7 February 2026 | 7 February 2011 |
| Saturday 14 February 2026 | 14 February 2011 |
By the machine’s own account, each ticket ran out fifteen years before it was paid for.
Three questions were put to the Council in writing last week. Has the machine ever printed the right year? Is a ticket dated 2011 a valid ticket in 2026? Who set the date on the machine, and when?
The report to Tuesday’s committee answers the first two. The third has not been answered.