Confusion reigns over the removal of signs welcoming visitors to Helensburgh – with council officials unaware of their staff having done so.
The town’s community council has also denied having removed the maroon signage at various points of Helensburgh, which have been earmarked for replacement.
One of the town’s ward councillors questioned an Argyll and Bute Council official after discussion on social media about the removal of the signs.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the authority’s environment, development and infrastructure committee today.
Cllr Ian MacQuire said: “I was asked by a couple of constituents yesterday if it is the council who have taken away the ‘Welcome to Helensburgh’ signs.
“There are a few which they have seen, in three or four locations. The community council has said it is not them doing it. Is it council staff who have taken the signs down?”
Jim Smith, the council’s head of amenity services, responded: “I am not aware of having done that, but I can certainly check. It is not something we would ordinarily do.”
Members of Helensburgh Community Council approved designs for new signs to welcome visitors to the town in March 2021, but said at the time that no new signs would be put up until the money had been raised to pay for them.
The removal of the sign at the west end of the town, on Gareloch Road near the junction with Rhu Road Higher, was raised on social media earlier this week, with one local resident, Fiona Baker, asking if anyone knew whether the sign had been taken away for a refresh or a replacement.
In response to Ms Baker’s query, community council secretary Sarah Davies said the sign’s removal was ‘nothing to do with us’ and the matter had not been discussed at any of the organisation’s recent meetings.
Other social media users reported having seen work being carried out on similar signs at the eastern and northern entrances to the town, on Cardross Road and Sinclair Street.
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