Outrage as signs installed on railings - again
"ALMOST vandalism" is how a Thurso Highland councillor has described the proliferation of road signs on the front of the town’s Sir John’s Square gardens.
John Rosie told the Caithness Courier he had never known so many people to be so upset about the issue, which he claimed was down to someone making "extremely stupid" decisions.
He is frustrated that efforts by himself and fellow town councillor Donnie Mackay to have similar signs moved to a more suitable spot two years ago have been reversed and the wall of signs has re-emerged.
Mr Rosie and Mr Mackay now plan to raise the issue at the next council meeting.
"I have never known in a long time that so many Thurso people would be so upset and every time I go down the street, I have quite a number of people ask me what can be done about it," said Mr Rosie.
He is particularly annoyed at the Gaelic sign – for North Highland College – as he believes there is no need for them.
"They really upset people and the college sign is quite ridiculous," he said.
"There’s no need for it and it’s spoiling the whole entrance to the town and gardens.
"It’s one thing the college paying for it themselves – and I have the highest regard for the Thurso college – but whoever approved it is being extremely stupid in this case.
"There’s a sign for the college at the bottom of Janet Street less than 100 yards from Sir John’s Square so there’s no need for the sign at the square and it just makes the town look like a circus."
Mr Rosie is proud of the attractive entrance to Thurso which visitors enjoy if they enter the town over the bridge and look up to the church and war memorial, but he said this was being ruined by the signs.
"Mr Mackay and I – like so many people in the town – feel quite sad that this beautiful entrance is being ruined with the view of the garden being hidden and the signs detracting from the church," he said.
"About two years ago, there were a number of road signs on the railings and people objected so we did a great deal of work with Transport Scotland, who were excellent, to have them removed and moved to better locations."
The sign for Halkirk, which was moved onto a nearby lamppost, has been duplicated on the railings.
Top stories
He added: "Someone is going half mad and I’m not quite sure who is making the decisions but as far as we are concerned, it will stop.
"We shall attempt to ensure that in the future there are no signs of any kind attached to the railings of Sir John’s Square because the people of Thurso take strong exception to it."