Potholes, dirty signs and ovegrown footpaths have sparked calls for a competition to be set up to find and award the cleanest street, park and playground in Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire County Council approved a motion last week to install more civic pride in the county.
The suggestion by the Liberal Democrats was put forward after concerns that road signs are across the county often looking tatty and unreadable and grass verges and footways are overgrown.
The motion, put forward by Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) and seconded by Cllr Ben Evans (LD, Churchdown) also said cost cutting has made Gloucestershire’s town centres and villages look neglected with high streets “covered in messy looking repairs.”
“Abandoned contractor signage is often left for weeks after work is completed,” they said. Despite these concerns, councillors agree that Gloucestershire is a beautiful county.
And that residents are expected to keep their communities clean and attractive, the County Council should have the same aims. They believe improving the appearance of a community can improve the morale of residents, attract tourists, improve the economy and give people a sense of pride in their local area.
As a result of the motion, cabinet will be asked to set new and high standards of civic prive in everything highways do. And set up a roaming team to concentrate on repairing, cleaning and ensuring road signs are visible from the road.
“One of the simplest ways we can show in our county is through maintaining and improving the small yet really essential things which make a big difference in people’s lives,” he said.
“The road we drive on, the sign we read, the drainage that keeps our streets and home dry, these are the things that shape our experience of living here and we all have a role in making Gloucestershire a place that reflects our care for it.”
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