Residents outraged after Council demands painted street sign be removed

Middleton residents are outraged after Rochdale Borough Council has demanded a streetsign that was painted by residents be removed – because it displays a poppy.

The sign on Hanson Street was painted earlier this month by Ros Liddle after local residents were told it could take three months to assess the street sign for a replacement.

However, due to adding a flourish of colour with a remembrance poppy, the council requested the decorative symbol be removed.

Resident Jan Eaton-Dykes said: “Ros and I decided to paint it, and she did a fantastic job. Over 200 people acknowledged and commented on it.

“Long story short, the poppy has to go. We’re very sad about this and it can’t even stay for a short time.”

Local residents have since expressed their outrage at the decision.

Emily Harrison said: “I can't believe this. You try and do something nice, but there's always some jobsworth who finds problems where there aren't any. The more I think about this, the more infuriated I am, these lovely ladies did this to improve this 'forgotten' area.”

Janet Branchflower said: “It looks lovely. There’s a street in Heywood with a poppy on the sign that I passed the other day.”

Ros added: “I think it's because no permission was asked before I painted it.

"Springvale/Hanson Street, and therefore the sign, will be on the route for the judging for Middleton in Bloom. It's going to look rubbish now with a dirty grey grubby sign.

“Don't forget that there was a casualty of the Great War who lived at 10 Hanson Street, that poppy is for him.”

Private Edwin Broxton, of Hanson Street, was one of the famous 6^th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers who fought in the Dardanelles. He was killed on 5 June 1915 when he was just 19 years of age. His grave is unknown

Morgan England commented: “It’s lovely in my opinion.”

Kim Clark said: “I don't see why it has to go, isn't it the very same council that are putting poppies on all the lamp posts?”

Sue Lambert added: “Amazing that it’s acceptable to have a sign without visible lettering (making it essentially useless), taking months to replace by the council, and yet a poppy image is unacceptable.”

Mark Widdup, director of neighbourhoods at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “While it’s great to see that residents are as passionate as the council in their support for the armed forces, street signs must conform to national standards to ensure people can read them properly, and so that they are all consistent in style and layout. There are also strict rules around the use of poppies, as it is an official symbol of remembrance. Before we erect or replace commemorative street name signs, we have to first consult with the family of the person being honoured and the Royal British Legion Industries.

“We were prepared to look at getting this street sign replaced, but we order replacement signs in batches every three months to ensure the whole process is more efficient. If the residents would still like to see this sign replaced, we will take steps to organise this.”