BUCKS: Clutter busting councillor: Most signs are "pointless" (From Bucks Free Press)

Marlow's clutter busting councillor: Most signs are "pointless"

8:51am Wednesday 19th November 2008 in Marlow

The councillor spearheading a plan to remove traffic signs in a radical experiment to shake up Marlow’s roads has said many are simply “pointless.”

Roger Wilson, who is also chairman of Wycombe District Council, proposed the idea of ‘naked streets’ as inspired by trials in Kensington High Street, London, and Bohmte, a town in Germany, back in September.

He said it was a “common sense” plan to unclutter roads, prevent drivers being distracted by unnecessary notices and make them think for themselves.

The scheme has been backed by county transport supremo cllr Val Letheren.

Cllr Wilson went on a sign scrapping mission this week with Marlow mayor Neil Marshall.

The pair drove along the High Street and surrounding roads to note any unnecessary ‘street clutter’ for a report to be sent to transport officers at Buckinghamshire County Council as a first step in the plan.

Cllr Wilson highlighted five signs within close proximity of the double mini-roundabout opposite the entrance to Higginson park, which alert drivers to its presence.

The former Mayor said: “They seem to go mad when they get to roundabouts in terms of signs.

“Signs in between the mini roundabouts to tell you there’s another roundabout - you’re on top of the roundabout when they tell you so what’s the point of putting it up? It’s engineering gone mad.”

There is also an over abundance of roundabout signs at the entrance to Court Garden, he said.

“On Pound Lane, would you believe there’s a zig zag sign - twisty bends for the next half mile. You could understand that having been put up when there was countryside, but now?” the clutter busting councillor said.

“There are things that were all the vogue 10 years ago but are now completely out.”

Cllr Wilson suggested the trial in Marlow after reading the research of author Tom Vanderbilt in his book: 'Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do'.

Mr Vanderbilt's work was influenced by late Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman, who believed that most road signs were unnecessary and redesigned a town based on his ideas.

“My aim would be to remove all these signs across the county. Perhaps when we are putting in new roads and junctions maybe we can think about whether these are necessary,” cllr Wilson added.

However, he conceded that “bureaucracy” would prevent speedy progress for the proposal.