SOUTHEND councillors have dismissed “pathetic” safety warnings ordering them to stop using ladders to clean filthy street signs.

Councillors claim they have regularly been cleaning street signs themselves for the last four years to keep Southend looking tidy.

However, councillors have now received a note from a senior official at Southend Council, ordering them to stop due to safety concerns.

David McGlone, Tory St Laurence councillor, is furious at the move and insisted he will continue to do all he can to keep his area clean and tidy.

He said: “I don’t see their point about using ladders, if they are put up correctly ladders are very safe.

READ MORE >>>

 

“I’ve been doing it years and don’t see what this fuss is all about.”

Former councillor Mark Flewitt, who stood from 2004 until last year, has also taken action himself to clean road signs in recent years.

He said: “It’s pathetic and I thought I’d read the email wrong at first.

“They are trying to control adults and it won’t work, we will keep up doing this.”

He dubbed it hilarious and says residents are pleased to see the efforts made.

Andy Wilkin, member of West Leigh Conservatives and Southend West Young Conservatives’ chairman, said: “I think it is absolutely absurd that a simple gesture like cleaning street signs is now being frowned upon by the council bosses because of health and safety fears.”

Ron Woodley, deputy council leader, said: “An email has been sent to all councillors reminding them of the appropriate way of getting signs cleaned across the city.

“While we encourage all councillors to work proactively within their communities, it is important that we also lead by example and don’t take unnecessary risks.

“Using ladders to clean signs close to the road puts the councillor and road users at risk. If anything was to happen it doesn’t bear thinking about, and so I urge fellow councillors to ensure they contact the highways team if they have any concerns about signage across the city.

“Any cleaning undertaken without the appropriate safety measures in place runs the risk of a serious accident, and we cannot allow that to happen.

“While there isn’t a budget dedicated for cleaning signs, work is carried out as and when appropriate, which is why we need residents and councillors to inform us of any potential issues.”