Councils urged to de-clutter roads
Posted by Fiona Birkwood
Local councils have been urged to de-clutter the country's roads so that England can regain some of its charm.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles and transport secretary Philip Hammond feel that an abundance of street signs, railings and advertising boards are harming the character of the country's urban spaces.
They have written to council leaders calling on them to reduce this "street clutter" so that the country can have a "freer authentic feel".
"We are being overrun by scruffy signs, bossy bollards, patchwork paving and railed off roads wasting taxpayers' money that could be better spent on fixing potholes or keeping council tax down," said Mr Pickles.
Back in July, a survey commissioned by Continental Tyres revealed that over ten million motorists had suffered car damage because of potholes in the UK's roads.
The study found that the average repair cost for this damage was £121, which adds up to over £1.2 billion for the nation.
Do you think the roads around you are too cluttered?
Too many signs also creates problems for drivers as well as being aesthetically displeasing. In cities, excessive signage makes seeing the important ones harder, and outside of town they reflect the headlights, causing glare.