Council could remove 'offensive' anti-littering signs from Peterborough roadsides
Peterborough City Council could take action to remove anti-litter signs placed at roadsides by volunteers.
Yellow circular signs with slogans such as “take litter home,” “don’t toss litter,” and “take your crap home” are a regular site for drivers across the city’s parkway network.
The signs have been placed around the city by volunteers, such as Mark Fishpool who spends many hours each day picking up litter and clearing the city’s roadside verges- in an attempt to make motorists think twice about dropping litter.
The council, however, has been in contact with Mr Fishpool stating that it has received some complaints about the signs using “offensive language” as well as highways engineers suggesting that the signs pose a visibility risk.
The council has said that it has currently paused the decision to remove all of the signage, pending further review, but has asked that no additional signage is put in place unless permission is received from the council.
The council added that it was ‘eager’ to work volunteer groups to develop suitable signage to address the problem but that a ‘degree of control and regulation’ was required.
Mark has described the situation as a “complete joke” and expressed his frustration that the council “can remove anti-litter signs but can’t remove actual litter from roadsides.
"There has been no recognition for all of the free work that has been done cleaning up Peterborough.”
Cllr Angus Ellis, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We fully recognise and applaud the efforts of volunteers in promoting the proper disposal of litter. However, we must also maintain control over signage within the street scene, particularly where such signage could pose a risk to public safety due to its placement or installation, or cause offence due to the language used. Our primary initial concern is the high-speed road network.
“In this instance, the signage was unauthorised on the high-speed road network. I have requested that we review the signs and their sites and in discussion with the Litter Wombles and IRC Volunteer groups we will decide which signs need to be removed. We will also review what alternative suitable, mutually approved signage that targets key problem locations around the city can be installed with council approval.”