Street Signage Targeted by Officials in County Down

The Roads Service in County Down, Northern Ireland, has threatened to fine traders who display advertising signs on public footpaths.

Although the practice is common across the UK, displaying signs on public footpaths has been illegal for many years. Police usually turn a blind eye to such activities, but the Roads Service is getting tough with traders after concerns were raised.

Fiona Brown, Mobility Team Manager at Guide Dogs NI, argued that the removal of street signage would improve conditions for all members of the public, not least the disabled, blind and partially sighted.

Ms Brown said: “Creating an environment that is easy to access and easy to navigate for everyone will actually create a better environment for everyone and potentially increase footfall and trading.”

The Roads Service has promised to issue a 50 fine to any trader who breaches regulations on street advertising signs.

The business community in County Down has responded to the threat with mixed emotions. Some traders accept that street signage is a menace, whereas others insist that placing signs on footpaths is often the only way to advertise a service.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we feel that an effort should be made to negotiate a compromise between traders and pedestrians. Not all street signage creates an obstacle.

‘3D’ Road Signage Created By Student

When 22-year-old Charlie Gale glanced at a novelty bookmark in a store in Nottingham, little did he know that he was about to embark on a potentially life-changing journey.

The product design undergraduate marvelled at the bookmark’s use of lenticular printing before his attention was drawn to a road sign outside the shop. The Nottingham Trent University student made the connection almost instantly.

After his eureka moment, Gale set about designing road signs that change appearance as motorists approach them. An image printed on a roundabout sign designed by the student appears to rotate as light hits it at different angles. This illusion of movement, described as a “pulse” by Gale, is intended to attract the attention of motorists, such that they become more aware of the sign (and the approaching hazard).

One of the major advantages of Gale’s invention is that, unlike digital signage, the ‘3D’ displays require no source of energy. The student is currently in the process of protecting his designs, having already established a company, Keyframe Signage, with the backing of Nottingham Trent University.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we are interested to find out how transport officials respond to this exciting new design. We wish Mr Gale every success as he tries to bring his idea to market.

Pink Shop Sign Gets Council in a Flap

Southend Council has threatened to prosecute a pair of shop owners in Westcliff-on-Sea, after ruling that an outdoor shop sign is in breach of regulations.

Teresa Tofts, the owner of Tooft Originals, has been summoned to appear before magistrates later this month. Mark Newman, leaseholder of the building in which Ms Toofts runs her business, is also being prosecuted by Southend Council.

Mrs Toofts accused her local council of ‘bullying’ her into removing the sign, which is large, pink and positioned high up the building. Southend Council argued that it had already ordered the shop owners to remove the sign, which conforms neither to national regulations nor local planning restrictions on the height of advertising signs.

Mrs Toofts said: “Is it all to do with it being pink? They’re just bullies at the council.”

Mr Newman and Mrs Toofts questioned why they had not been invited to a meeting on the matter before a decision was made to take legal action. Mrs Toofts hinted that had the council asked her to lower the sign, she would have complied.

Southend Council has described the sign as “detrimental to visual amenity.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we sympathise with Mrs Toofts, but the appearance and placement of signage should always conform to regulations.

One Mile, Eight Speed Limits

The AA has drawn attention to a one-mile stretch of road in Nottinghamshire that is populated by no fewer than eight speed-limit signs.

Describing the area as ‘confusing’ to motorists, the AA’s Paul Watters suggested that drivers travelling through Zouch village, which lies on the border between Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, tend to look at the signs more than the road. Considering that poor observation is one of the major causes of road accidents in rural areas, the presence of so many speed-limit signs in one area could do more harm than good.

Nottinghamshire County Council explained that the speed restrictions had been introduced in stages over the past eight years. Chris Charnley, who works in the council’s highways division, noted that a 60mph limit was imposed on much of the road (A606) until 2005, when a 50mph restriction was introduced just outside Zouch, to reduce accidents.

Charnley added: “At the same time, a 40mph limit was imposed through the village. The aim of the scheme was to manage speed, which had been identified as a contributory factor in incidents.”

30mph and 40mph restrictions were introduced last year. Between the signs, drivers pass through two national-speed-limit zones.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we recognise road signs should be kept simple: confusing motorists cannot improve road safety.

M&S signs: Campaigners hit out!

Campaigners in Carmarthen, Wales, have protested a decision by retailer Marks & Spencer to limit the number of English-Welsh signs around its store on Red Street.

Identifying themselves as members of the Cymdeithas yr laith protest group, the 20 activists believe a recent overhaul of the M&S outlet in Carmarthen failed to show sufficient respect for the Welsh-speaking community.

The campaigners insist that more bilingual signs should be installed around the store.

Hazel Charles Evans, a member of Cymdeithas yr laith, claims that the only Welsh-language sign in the store reads, “talwch yma”, which means ‘pay here’. Evans described this as a backwards step for the firm.

The protest group wants the retailing giant to increase the number of bilingual signs installed in the store. It also demands that the company addresses customers over its loudspeaker in both Welsh and English.

Marks & Spencer responded to the criticism by claiming it had consulted the Welsh Language Commissioner on signage. A spokesperson for the company added that staff who spoke Welsh wear tags which state they can help Welsh-speaking customers.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we believe that bilingual signage is necessary in some parts of the UK. A company should always respect the identity of a local community.

The ‘Inescapable’ Colonel Sanders Sign

The owners of a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in the town of March, Cambridgeshire, has been criticised after erecting a seven-metre-high Colonel Sanders sign in a residential area.

The sign, which features the KFC logo, a depiction of Colonel Sanders and an arrow pointing to the restaurant’s drive-through entrance, towers above neighbouring bungalows.

Local resident, Don Burr, said: “Colonel Sanders is looking at me all day. When I come up the garden, he’s still looking at me. I’ve never seen a sign as big as that. And he’s all lit up and neon at night”.

One resident is able to see the iconic image of Colonel Sanders from every room in his home.

A spokesperson for Fenland District Council admitted that planning permission for the sign had been granted. After confirming receipt of an official complaint from a member of the public, the spokesperson added that no action would be taken against the KFC outlet, because the sign complies with the planning application.

In an apparent effort to avoid alienating potential customers in the March area, a franchise spokesperson for KFC confirmed that the company was reviewing the case.

Here at Sussex Signs, we sympathise with residents in March. An advertising sign must be appropriate for its environment.

Peruvian Billboard Sign Produces Drinking Water

Few advertising structures can be more vital to mankind than a billboard sign erected in a village outside Lima, Peru. In addition to providing firms with an effective method of advertising their services, the billboard supplies drinking water to villagers in Bujama.

The innovative structure cost more than £21,000 to develop and produces a little under 100 litres of potable water every day. The system works by trapping moisture in the air and then converting it into water that is safe to drink. The water can be accessed via a tap.

William Eccleshare, CEO of Clear Channel Outdoor, which developed the billboard alongside Lima’s University of Engineering Technology, said: “This is outdoor advertising at its most inspiring: embracing new technology, working in partnership with a host of agencies and delivering a lasting benefit to the people of Bujama.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we applaud Clear Channel Outdoor and the University of Engineering Technology Peru, for investing in a signage structure that can sustain human life in difficult conditions. Though the billboard is by no means inexpensive to produce, perhaps the model could be replicated or improved to provide water for people in other parts of the world.

Bilingual road signs are ‘useless’

Research carried out by TRL has revealed that a large proportion of motorists in Scotland consider bilingual road signs to be utterly ‘useless’.

Commissioned by Transport Scotland, the research drew comparisons between nine Gaelic-English road signs and eleven English-only road signs.

A sample of tourists visiting Scotland were asked questions about the signs. Approximately half admitted that they were unable to understand the information displayed on bilingual road signs. 40 per cent of respondents claimed that the dual-language signs distracted their attention from the road, while one in five had been sent in the wrong direction.

Worryingly, six per cent of respondents said that the bilingual signs had nearly caused them to crash. Are Gaelic-English signs really that dangerous?

A councillor for Landward Caithness, Willie Mackay, expressed his concern over the findings. The councillor is worried that the Scottish Government’s investment in bilingual road signs could do more harm than good, especially in terms of road safety.

The SNP has promised to spend £2 million on additional Gaelic-English road signs.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we believe that design, layout and placement are especially important factors to consider when creating and installing bilingual signage.

INDASOL Releases New Cold-Weather Tape

INDASOL may profit from the unseasonably cold weather of late after it announced the launch of UHB Cold Stick, a new structural tape that bonds difficult surfaces in cold conditions.

Tape is often used in the installation of signage, especially if traditional fittings are unsuitable or unavailable. But traditional types of tape are incompatible with certain surfaces and some cannot be used in extremes of cold. INDASOL believes its UHB Cold Stick, available in sizes of 0.64 mm, 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm (thickness), will solve the problem.

INDASOL’s product development manager, Andy Mordue, said: “If you’ve ever had to put up a sign in cold conditions, you will know of the frustration waiting for tapes and adhesives to set.

“UHB Cold Stick takes this problem away and leaves the sign fixed permanently with total confidence.”

Mordue added that the new tape is also suitable for use with “tricky plastics and coatings and powder-coated metals.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we welcome the addition of UHB Cold Stick to the range of tapes that can be used by the signage industry. We develop all kinds of signs for private and commercial customers, so we understand the importance of using reliable bonding solutions.

Festival Signage is Key to the Festival Atmosphere

There are different types of festivals and events. From the huge and internationally famous like Glastonbury to small, community run events. Each has its own merits but the organisers of the events take just as much pride in their festival whether they attract 100,000 people or 1,000.

When you go to a festival there will be a couple of indicators of the quality of the event. The main attractions are obviously the biggest indicator, but elements such as the professionalism and helpfulness of staff contribute, the range of side-attractions and the facilities provided all amount to whether or not a person sees the festival as professionally run.

One indicator that is not immediately obvious is the signage used for the festival. If the event is a once off it can be hard justifying paying for signs beyond those printed on basic materials. If the event is a regular occurrence then it is often worthwhile investing in signs that can be used year after year.

The reality is that the trappings and appearance of an event has a big effect on what people think of it. Corporate trade shows spend a huge amount of money on getting signs to show off the different booths and companies, it is expected in these events that a professional atmosphere be on show. When you go to community run events then the appearance of the event is just as important.

Signs that show the directions to and from the event can make a huge difference to the happiness of the public as they arrive. No-one likes travelling around rural back roads, getting lost and wasting half their day trying to find something they should be busy enjoying. After that signage to the different amenities within the event are hugely important, first aid areas, lost and found, security, etc.

The importance grows for any shops, stalls or food outlets for the event. While artisan products are definitely appreciated the public still expects a certain level of professionalism. While you may very well be selling Angus beef burgers raised on your own farm if your shop signage does not show that you have a professional setup then you will not appeal to the general public. At festivals and events the public have very little knowledge about who you are, your background and your level of dedication to what you are selling. Professional looking shop signs will indicate that you are a permanent fixture of various festivals and markets and that you intend on being around for a long time, making you all the more attractive to general punters.

The reality is that many community festivals cannot afford expensive signs. However, if the event is running regularly for many years then the appearance of your festival is as important as anything else, and quality signage should be high on your priority list.