Remove this sign now (From Stroud News and Journal)

Remove this sign now

A FURIOUS row has emerged between Stroud's traders and the police over a giant automated sign which appeared at the top of the High Street on Friday.

The sign warns of the penalties of being drunk and disorderly and of drink-driving.

But while police say it is designed to warn offenders, councillors, shoppers and traders say it gives a bad impression of the town. The four metre high sign first appeared by the Four Clocks at Stroud's Goodwill Evening.

It flashes between three different messages - 'CCTV in operation, £80 tickets for disorder, and drinking and driving kills - and will be used at different locations over the festive period.

Local councillors were stunned when they saw it. Town and district councillor John Marjoram (Green, Trinity ward) said: "We've had a lot of complaints.

"It makes the town look as if it is naturally a place where a lot of crime occurs and it was totally inappropriate to use at the Goodwill Evening."

Town councillor Hadyn Sutton added: "What sort of town will people think they're coming to?"

One elderly shopper from Chalford, who asked not to be named, was so put off he went home.

"We'll go further afield to do our shopping now rather than put up with a threatening welcome like that and I know others who have said the same," he said.

Another shopper, Margaret Blackburn, said: "The sign is offensive to the people of Stroud and should be replaced by Happy Christmas."

Estate agent Dan Parker, of Parkers, in London Road, told the SNJ that several house-hunters had asked if Stroud has a crime problem.

"There are people coming in who are genuinely worried about buying property in the area because of the sign. It is very off putting," he said. "I have lived in the area for 15 years and Stroud is not like that."

John Mills, of Mills' Caf in Witheys Yard, said the sign was potentially disastrous for business.

"The town and district council, the Chamber of Trade and the police have been working to regenerate this town and that's largely been successful but this seems to have undone all the good work," he said.

"When I first saw it I thought they had just brought it in for Goodwill - I was horrified to see it still flashing on Saturday.

"It gives out the most appalling message to people about the town. "On Saturday people were coming into the caf asking if Stroud was a dangerous place."

Following complaints, the police have agreed not to use it during the day. Insp Nick Holmes, of Stroud police, said it would play a vital role in Operation Aqua, the force's seasonal crackdown on booze-fuelled disorder.

"It's not our intention to spoil anyone's fun, but the public must be aware that we will come down hard on those who indulge in drunken disorder," he said.

But town centre manager Vicky Hancock said she was disappointed she had not been consulted.

"It is totally inappropriate for a small market town like Stroud which really has very little crime," she said.

Ms Hancock is liasing with police to change the daytime message to publicise Christmas free parking.