A Leeds councillor says he is at his wit’s end with an “overkill” of roundabout signs across the city, which he’s branded a “vanity project” and “distracting” to drivers.
Leeds City Council has spent £64,500 on putting up additional signs across roundabouts as part of a climate change campaign, with each of the 430 panels alone coming to £150. Tory councillor Sam Firth, 30, is having none of it and thinks it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money.
The signs say, ‘Relaxed Mowing Area’ in large bold letters and below a caption reads: ‘We’re mowing this grass less often to create vital space for nature and make Leeds’ roadsides more colourful’.
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There’s an accompanying panel below offering sponsorship opportunities, with many of the signs already sponsored by local firms. The council says it expects to earn more than £300,000 each year through the sponsorship opportunities.
Mr Firth, who represents the Harewood ward, believes the additional climate signage is unnecessary however. He said: “Leeds City Council is using signs like that as a small vanity project with a large amount of taxpayers’ money.
“It’s a vanity project because a lot of the residents already are aware about the fact they have a more relaxed mowing policy and they’re promoting flowers on their roundabouts.
“My personal view is that once someone knows that’s a relaxed mowing area, which they can see already, because of the grass growing and the wild flowers, what is the point of then putting a sign up?
“And not only that, putting a sign in repeated places on different roundabouts. And for example, in some areas over killing the area with multiple signs, all saying the same things and also, distracting those on the road.”
He thinks the money could have been “better spent” on different green projects rather than on signage.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson responded: “These signs form part of a wider initiative to tackle climate change, improve habitats for wildlife and sustain biodiversity.
“They advertise an opportunity for local businesses to get involved in supporting this initiative through sponsorship, with local businesses contributing over £300k each year which more than covers the initial cost of the signs.
“The signs also promote messages about important climate change initiatives including woodland creation, relaxed mowing and creating pollinator friendly areas. These initiatives are helping to mitigate the effects of climate change as well as increasing biodiversity by creating more habitats for birds, animals and pollinating insects.
"Signage is important for people to understand why these changes have taken place as well as engaging business partners and more volunteers.”
Mr Firth responded: "The council could still have raised £300,000 from the new sponsorship panels without spending additional 65k on separate climate panels. They're just replacing the former Leeds in Bloom advertising signs."
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