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WARNING SIGNS BILL REACHES £500,000

By Richard Wright - Friday, March 28, 2008
WARNING SIGNS BILL REACHES £500,000
One of the warning signs in action along Station Road in Wootton. Picture by ROBIN CROSSLEY.
THE flashing solar-powered speed signs that have sprung up on the side of roads across the Island have cost more than half a million pounds, the IW Council confirmed last week.
Director of environment and neighbourhoods Stuart Love said: “119 signs have been installed across the Island as part of the One Island commitment to improving road safety.
“Sixty-one signs of the type that appeal to speeding motorists to slow down are already up and a further 35 are being installed this week. In addition, 24 signs that display the speed of approaching vehicles have also been erected.
“The total cost of these signs will be in the region of £520,000. The signs have been put up at all the intended sites at less cost than the initial £760,000 budget.”
Labour leader Cllr Geoff Lumley said: “I’m in favour of anything which gets people to think about reducing speed on the roads and so I’m not critical of the principle behind the signs.
“It does, however, seem like a lot of money when you consider only a fraction of the roads budget for the Island has been spent.
“I shall be asking further questions about this money at the council’s scrutiny committee meeting.”