Call to arms in campaign to rid city streets of hated sign clutter

REDUNDANT road signs and "vexatious" traffic guard rails will come under attack as part of a high-profile campaign launched by highways bosses in response to a Government call to de-clutter Britain's streets.

Late last year, local authorities were told that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had "declared war" on street clutter, and they were urged to get rid of unnecessary signs, railings and advertising hoardings.

Some councils have not yet drawn up plans on how to react, but Sheffield Council is set to spend 20,000 on a campaign which will encourage the public to nominate their most hated "street furniture".

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The plans are revealed in a report by Simon Green, executive director of the authority's Place department, which is responsible for road signs, benches and other items in the so-called "public realm".

Mr Green says more should be done to raise public perception of the issue of street clutter, and proposes that a Silly Signs and Guardrail campaign is launched to help the council identify potential trouble spots.

He adds: "A reduction in the volume of street furniture will improve the ability of people to move around, particularly those either encumbered or disabled, thus encouraging people to be active and healthy.

"The removal of unnecessary signs and roadside guard rail will improve the visual aspect of the streets of Sheffield. It will support the council's objective of 'streets to be proud of'.

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"Empowering the public with this strategy will also encourage them to get involved in and take pride in their local environment."

Mr Green's report says that Sheffield city centre's "public realm" had already been designed with "minimising and co-ordinating street furniture in mind" but the same could not be said of outlying city roads.

Increasing amounts of street clutter in Sheffield are blamed on limited budgets, which have resulted in single signs on separate posts, which are cheaper than adding to an existing sign.

The report says that the resources required to maintain signs and roadside guard rails is significant and the use of a moderate amount of funding to remove redundant equipment would result in much larger long-term savings.

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Some sections of signage or guard rail will have to be retained, even if they are extremely unpopular with the public, but many of those which are nominated could be removed immediately according to Mr Green.

He says: "The public could nominate their best examples of signs that are no longer needed, are pointing to places that no longer exist, or posts that no longer carry signs.

"People could also be asked to put forward their most irritating section of guard rail that serves no purpose or makes them go out of their way.

"Members of the council's cabinet highways committee can determine the top 20 examples to be removed. Officers would help check if there is some unavoidable statutory or safety need for any signing or railing nominated, that would prevent its removal.

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"The removal of street furniture, if carried out properly, should make the highways safer to use. There are likely to be instances where safety will be enhanced by improvement to visibility for drivers.

"Footways will become clearer of obstructions which will make them safer to walk, especially for disabled people, those with pushchairs or simply walking with children."

The project to remove street furniture follows a similar scheme which has been run by Sheffield Council in recent years called Driving Me Crazy, in which drivers were asked to nominate road junctions and traffic schemes which caused them most trouble.

If given approval by Sheffield Council's ruling cabinet at a meeting next week, the Silly Signs and Guardrail campaign could begin this month.