Following on from the previous post I’ve returned wet and bedraggled from rooting around in the road side verges to find remnants of demolished road signs. These signs were deemed vital for road safety when erected, that reason remains, even if they don’t.
Success, I’ve found the remains of three large route deviation signs and three marker posts. In looking to annotate my map of the bends in Red Road – scene of many an accident – I thought back to earlier in the week where I got the map from. It was from Surrey Heath Borough Council’s splendid GIS and Gazetter Officer, and printed from Google Maps street view.
So, I used Google Maps street view myself to see their picture of the bends on Red Road. Wow, I found the answers to all my problems – the of the exact locations of the demolished signs. Can’t tell you how absolutely chuffed I feel. The location of one missing sign has bugged me, relying only on memory is not good enough as evidence. Lo and behold, I found the evidence in Google Maps.
Before I explain the Google Map evidence, road safety on Red Road surely shouldn’t rely on me rooting around in the roadside verges and in Goggle Maps. Heck, the signs are only just over £100 each. A small price to ensure a safer road.
Here are the pictures of the missing signs from Google Maps. The physical evidence of the signs is almost lost in the undergrowth. From left to right. The first is in the middle of the bends and is a double sign, with directional arrows viewable from either direction. The second one is of the one where no physical evidence remains, and the third one only one upright post still stands. Mustn’t forget the most recently demolished sign, where only the posts remain, and which has yet to be replaced.
All of which begs the question – why weren’t the damaged signs replaced?
When a car is involved in an accident which damages the public realm (street furniture), the Council can claim for the costs of repair and replacement from the insurer. The suggestion, therefore, is that Conservative-controlled Surrey County Council has claimed for the costs of the signs and then kept the money. Even if they didn’t make the claim (or the signs were damaged in an unreported incident), then they should have been replaced.
This is a real-life example of how an ongoing desire to minimise public spending puts the public at risk. Careless cuts costs lives.
By: Chris on January 27, 2011
at 8:48 pm