BUT FOR HOW LONG?
After weeks of cajoling and reminding, the Highways Department put back the sign pointing to “Geldeston” at the top of the Hill.
That’s a help, probably, to people trying to find the Wherry or the Locks, or to get to Three Rivers or Rowan Craft. I’m happy if it helps.
The main reason for pushing to restore the sign after all these years is that it’s one way to make the Top Road (Old Yarmouth Road) a little safer, to slow down the maniacs who drive along there at 60 mph and more, using it as a shortcut and a way to avoid the two roundabouts in Stockton and Gillingham on the A143/146.
We’ve had five near-fatal crashes on the Old Yarmouth Road in the past twenty years.
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Once the sign was back, I noticed that at this time of year it was not very visible, from either direction.
Low branches and leaves on the handsome oak tree at the top of Geldeston Hill hid it from the Gillingham end; from the Ellingham end the road sign showing a turn to the right was almost completely covered in brambles.
I spent a couple of hours clearing both, for which my acquaintance at Highways expressed his thanks and appreciation. (He also explained why it had taken so long: first he had to contact the sub-contractors Norse, then they had to get their sign-writers to work …)
Another ongoing hazard on the Top Road are the heavy vehicles that hurtle along, too wide and fast to be safe for any other users: probably, one of them knocked the sign off the signpost in the first place.
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I was warned by a council member at the next parish council meeting that I could be prosecuted for clearing road signs.
Odd. Surely, it’s in everyone’s interests to keep road signs clear and visible throughout the year? Surely, parish councillors are there to serve the interests of the community?
Who was it?
Well, no list of the present council has yet been posted on the notice board on the Street, so have a guess: their names and the latest minutes are on the GPC website.
JC
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A Geldeston Miscellany 