The board will discuss concerns regarding replacement of missing street and bus stop signage.
Minutes:
Cllr Brian Dalton drew attention to the paper circulated at the meeting, and noted that seven years ago he had brought the issue that old black road signs were being replaced with a cheaper alternative, to the Boards attention. He felt that the replacement signs were not appropriate for a medieval city.
He had been in contact with Officers at the council who had advised that the council no longer replaced street name plates.
Questions and comments included:
· Cllr Dean agreed that the signage was important. He had been active over the years in trying to improve the signage around the city. He had instigated the repainting of the fingerposts and had the totems erected around the city. He added that for non-legal signs it must be accepted that Wiltshire Council (WC) did not have the funds to replace them. The exception to this was the replacement to street name plates. He felt that it was not acceptable for WC to say that they would not be replaced. There had to be some discretionary funds for this.
· Cllr Walsh had been out to repaint road signs in his division, and had spent 18 months talking to a senior officer to have a sign put up in Gramshaw Road, as he felt that it should be replaced by the Council as part of the statutory requirements, from the government legislation.
· Cllr Hocking shared the frustration, however he suggested that the Board should first quantify the problem by asking the councillors to go around their wards and identify all of the name plates and bus signs that either needed work, were missing, or broken. This data should then be collated to see the accurate picture of what was required, and then cost that work. This evidence could then be brought back to the Board for discussion on how to move forward.
· Cllr Dalton would be happy to support that approach, however he noted that it was WC responsibility, as stated in the Legislation he read out.
Street naming and numbering is a statutory Council function. The relevant powers for local authorities are contained in Sections 64 and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847, and Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Public Health Act of 1925.
Both of these acts are still in force even though they were enacted many, years ago. These Acts require the local authority to prepare street naming and numbering schemes and to maintain a good standard of street nameplates. Both are essential for the efficient functioning of postal and emergency services as well as for the convenience and safety of the general public. Paragraph 19 (1) of the Public Health Act of 1925 specifically states that:
“19.-(1) The urban authority shall cause the name every street to be painted, or otherwise marked, in a conspicuous position on any house, building or erection, in or near the street, and shall from time to time alter or renew such inscription of the name of any street, if and when the name of the street is altered or the inscription becomes illegible”
· Once the Board had compiled the list of works for Salisbury, they would meet with Highways Officers to discuss the way forward.
Decision
The Salisbury Area Board agreed:
1. that each ward Member would compile a list of works for their area.
2. The CEM would schedule a meeting with Highways Officers and Cllrs to discuss the way forward.