GRIEVING families are to be stopped from placing large roadside memorials in tribute to loved ones.
Only small posies, or in some cases a small cuddly toy, are to be allowed in a policy that looks set to be adopted by the Isle of Wight Council.
Councillors have until Monday to make their views known otherwise the Roadside Memorials Policy will be adopted.
A report issued to councillors said the policy aimed to respect the wishes of people who wanted to mark road deaths with a memorial but the council had a duty to keep the highway safe for all users.
"The distraction of motorists and the safety of those placing or maintaining memorials are the overriding safety issues," the report states.
"Low-key memorials, such as the discrete placing of a small floral tribute or small soft toys at certain times of the year and for a limited duration at the roadside, may be acceptable provided there is no significant risk of driver distraction or undue risk to the individual visiting the location."
The policy insists tributes should not interfere with grass cutting and verge maintenance and should not be on central reservations, roundabouts and other road junctions.
"Any memorial which is considered by the authority to constitute a permanent monument is not permitted on the highway and will be removed on safety grounds.
"In these circumstances the bereaved will be contacted and encouraged to accept an alternative low-key memorial, for example the appropriate planting of flowers or shrubs in keeping with the location."
If more permanent memorials were wanted, discussions would be held over placing them in cemeteries, the policy states.