Action is needed to fix the soaring number of street nameplates in need of repair across north-east Fife, locals have suggested.
With councils across Scotland facing the prospect of having to make huge savings, Tay Bridgehead councillor Tim Brett and community councillor Jonny Tepp hope the current situation is not just a sign of the times amid fears the cash available to sort out signage at is nowhere near enough.
Mr Brett pointed to two signs in his ward in particular which are in dire need of an upgrade, and only a couple of miles apart.
The sign at Westwater Place in Wormit is currently bent and held up by just one pole, while a wall-mounted sign just along the road in Tayport – at the junction of Shanwell Road and Links Crescent – is virtually unreadable.
Mr Brett and Mr Tepp believe there are plenty of other examples across north-east Fife, and worry that the situation is replicated elsewhere across the region.
“When I recently asked the transportation service how many street sign repairs and replacements were outstanding I was told there are currently 60 on the list, either needing repaired or missing altogether, but this year’s street nameplate budget only allowed for 50,” Mr Brett explained.
“The officer concerned feared the number needing attention would increase to 90 before the summer of 2017.”
Mr Tepp believes it is an issue that needs greater attention.
He said: “We all rely on street nameplates being legible and in place because they are not only used by visitors to an area but are also crucial for emergency services or other essential services trying to locate a particular address.
“The delay in replacing damaged or missing signs is yet another indication of the financial pressure faced by Fife Council’s transportation service.”
Kevin Smith, lead professional for roads network management in north Fife, said: “There are a number of orders for sign works currently out for procurement and delivery in north Fife.
“The normal time taken for a piece of sign work, including ordering specialist materials and installing it on site is typically three months from time of order.
“There are around 40 works orders outstanding from 2016/17 – some of which include multiple signs/poles – from a list of around 150.
“This list will take us up to an allocated spend of approximately £32,000 which is a typical amount for a year’s maintenance on signs in north Fife.
“We intend to get through this work before April 2017 and are now taking orders for further signs to be added to our works programme for the next financial year 2017/18.”
