megilleland Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 Hereford Times: 6:00am Sunday 20th April 2014 in News By James Forrest Street signs spruced up by helpful locals in the Tupsley area of Hereford DIRTY and damaged road name signs have proved an unconventional inspiration for community action in the Tupsley ward of Hereford. Residents are picking up the slack left by council funding cuts and renovating the signs themselves in a show of civic pride. Senior citizens from The Rose Garden independent living village are cleaning and repairing the plates in their workshop while members of the Central Tupsley Community Group are painting them. The project aims to improve the area’s image and appearance, and is the brainchild of Councillor Jim Kenyon. He said: “This is one simple way we can help ourselves and improve the place we live in. “These are the sort of jobs that would have been done years ago but these days there simply isn’t the money available. “We are filling the gap and this work shows the spirit of the community.†Red-tape has been bypassed after Balfour Beatty, the firm responsible for road sign maintenance, gave permission for the repairs and donated paint, brushes and materials. The residents are currently renovating their first four signs which they hope to complete shortly. Councillor Kenyon hoped other areas would see what the project was achieving and follow its lead. The Hereford Times recently reported a similar example of residents taking on responsibility for public works in the face of local authority budget cuts. In Abbey Dore, a family has been digging roadside ditches and cleaning blocked drains to help prevent potholes appearing on roads near their home. I think the money is available - it's just spent elsewhere.
Colin James Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 Well done to them!! I have looked at some of the street signs locally myself and they are faded and not looking their best, I have also looked at the Algae on some of the road signs, I cleaned a few along Haywood Lane last year on the sharp bend where there have been a few serious accidents because drivers could not see them.
twowheelsgood Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 It’s a great initiative - like so many other things, small and not so small items just not done over a number of years have left the city looking increasingly shabby. I think the money megilleland is referring to is the 20% profit going into private pockets.
megilleland Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Posted April 20, 2014 twowheelsgood Posted Today, 09:28 AM . . . I think the money megilleland is referring to is the 20% profit going into private pockets. Correct.
dippyhippy Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 Well done to those involved - small things make a huge difference. There was another story this week on HT, all about the fact that there will be less money to be spent on things like grass cutting. Some interesting points made by Cllr Liz Harvey.
ragwert Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 They replaced a few of the cast iron road signs by me last year that had been there for near 50 years with those thin metal ones.Not six weeks later one of them had been bent inwards by being kicked.
dippyhippy Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 That can't be part of this project though, as they are restoring rather than replacing signs.But what you say is a concern Ragwert. Original 1950's road signs, are actually quite collectible.....check out the prices for cast iron ones on eBay.I would always prefer to see the originals in place. They are a lot sturdier for a start, as well as looking much better than modern replacements.
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