Trafford council has signed off on a decision to add the borough's coat of arms to street name plates. Town hall bosses argue the move will 'promote a stronger sense of place and civic pride' within its communities. It also believes the change will 'increase public awareness of council ownership and maintenance responsibilities' and 'enhance the appearance of the streetscape'.
Cost and implementation
The new design would be introduced on all new street name plates, while current ones would be updated as and when they require replacement. The new approach would cost £26.29 more per name plate than the current design, taking it from £285.41 to £311.70, with the Labour-led council describing this as 'not prohibitive'.
Leaders estimate an additional annual cost of £1,000 which it says is outweighed by the perceived benefits.
Opposition and resident concerns
However, the move has been met with doubt by some. Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council Shaun Ennis said civic pride is created by 'fair and even-handed investment in every community' and strategies to improve local high streets.
He added: “In more than 10 years of speaking to people on the doorstep, not once has someone asked to see the Trafford crest on street signs. The only benefit that I can think of is it might mean they finally replace some of the missing signs I’ve been banging on about for ages.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to residents ahead of this year’s annual budget meeting, which saw councillors vote through an exceptional 7.49pc council tax rise in a bid to stave off the risk of bankruptcy, and again ahead of May’s local elections to ask them what they want to see change in their borough.
Again and again, residents raised a lack of general maintenance as their biggest gripe. From potholes problems and overgrown grass verges to having to pay to dispose of garden waste, they said they were not sure where their cash was going. There was also a feeling in some communities that their areas were being ignored and overlooked.
