Government slammed over signpost campaign response
A WETHERBY ward councillor has slammed the Government's response to the Wetherby News's Signpost Our Town campaign.
Coun Alan Lamb had written to Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, requesting intervention after the brown tourism sign for Wetherby disappeared following the A1 upgrade to a three lane motorway.
Backed by the Wetherby News’s Signpost Our Town campaign, he wrote to the minister to ask for a change in policy after the Highways Agency said it was against having “historic market town” signs erected on motorways despite allowing brown signs for other tourist attractions on motorways elsewhere.
But responding to Coun Lamb’s letter, on behalf of Lord Adonis, transport minister Sadiq Khan said: “Replacement signing would need to be located on the new local access road, which, as you are aware, would be a matter for the city council.
“I understand that the original brown sign, 'Historic Market Town of Wetherby', was a ‘heritage’ sign, not a brown tourist direction sign.
“It was located on the A661, which led from the A1 northbound slip road into Wetherby. A section of the A661 and the slip road were removed as part of the upgrading works, requiring the removal of the original sign.
“Since the upgrade to motorway status, the A1 trunk road signing has been replaced with Al(M) Motorway signing and heritage signing is not permitted on the motorway network.”
Coun Lamb has criticised the response from Mr Khan saying: “The sign would make a huge difference to our local businesses and I’m determined we will get it back. As far as I’m concerned this is certainly not the end of the matter.
He added: “To be told by someone that the businesses in Wetherby can’t benefit from a much-needed sign is very disappointing.”
Coun Lamb said he would now approach the shadow transport secretary, Theresa Villiers, to try to obtain a commitment to reinstating the brown sign if the Conservatives come to power at the upcoming general election.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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