Decluttering campaign fails

Original article Sept 8th 2013:

The WC cabinet member for highways, John Thomson, wants to remove unnecessary roadsigns from Wiltshire. He's written to parish councils asking them to identify signs which could be removed.

As well as signs, road markings and street furniture could also be removed. The aim would be, "To ensure that the motorist is not overloaded with extraneous information and to ensure that the county retains its unspoilt rural character."

Not all signs can go as many road signs are legally required. Thomson suggests that examples of unnecessary signs are those which warn of bends and junctions, which motorists should be looking out for anyway. Removing an unnecessary sign costs from £50 for a straight demolition up to £500 if an electrical lighting supply has to be disconnected.

Please get in touch if you have any candidates for signs which could be remitted.

Picture - a similar campaign in Bedford produced nearly enough signs to bury the Mayor.

............................................................................

Your say: "Re getting rid of the clutter of road signs, why has Wiltshire council not removed any of the speed camera signs that are still in place 3 years after the camera unit shut. Most are only fixed in place by 2 bolts how it costs £50 to remove them I don't know. Road policing officers don't need these signs in place to carry out checks the only reason I can see that they are left up is to fool motorist into thinking speed enforcement is still carried out in Wiltshire."

................................................................................

Update July 28 2014 - in response to a question to council in July 2014 the cabinet member was unable to identify any signs removed as a result of his 2013 'initiative'.