Bournemouth Borough Council has been accused of wasting money after it spent £ 76,000 on a new road sign.
Installed on a bridge over the A338, the prominent sign reads: “WELCOME TO BOURNEMOUTH.”
Ben Grower, a Labour councillor, is reported to have said: “Jobs are being cut and services not expanded. This is the biggest two fingers to the people I have seen in many years.”
But council officials are adamant that the sign will prove to be cost-effective in time. Lawrence Williams, a councillor for the Conservative party, said: “First impressions are everything and this is why it’s important to make the gateway into our town as welcoming as possible.
“This type of signage makes a statement about our town and the community it represents as well as a significant contribution to the way [the] area is perceived.”
£76,000 may seem a little steep for what is essentially a large welcome sign, but Bournemouth Borough Council explained that the cost included design, planning, installation, traffic control and power.
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