Two months ago I drove into a council car park through the exit by mistake, and wrecked a tyre on the steel flaps designed to prevent people getting into the car park without paying. In my opinion the signposts into the car park were very badly illuminated, but the council has refused to pay the £85 it cost me for a new tyre.
You would win compensation from the council if you could convince a court that the council had failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent an accident of this kind. You would have to take photographs to support your claim but if the council was able to show that you were the first motorist to make such a mistake you would probably find yourself on a sticky wicket.