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Shop signs 'not to blame' for wrong-way drivers

GUY CAMPBELL/BBC Wendy Dalton, wearing glasses, stands beside a black sign reading "Kirkley Village Shops" with black plastic wrapped around an arrow pointing to shopping areaGUY CAMPBELL/BBC
Wendy Dalton said the arrows had been covered up to comply with demands from Suffolk Highways, but the problem of wrong-way driving was still happening

Traders say signs put up to encourage shoppers are being unfairly blamed for a "decades-long" problem of drivers turning the wrong way into a one-way road.

Business owners have been left feeling rankled when officials said arrows on the signs were causing the issue in Waterloo Road in Kirkley, Lowestoft, and ordered them to be removed or covered up.

Suffolk County Council's highways department said the arrows were confusing motorists into thinking they could turn right into a one-way street, but traders said the signs were only put up in April and the problem had been going on for many years.

Business owners called for better official signage, and the council said it was "exploring alternative solutions".

GUY CAMPBELL/BBC A person wearing glasses and a red top stands in front of a Christmas tree covered with bright decorations GUY CAMPBELL/BBC
Kirkley business owner Alice Taylor designed the round emblem on the new signs and has called for better signage to be put up by Suffolk Highways to stop wrong-way drivers

Wendy Dalton, secretary of the Kirkley Pocket Parks group, which installed the "Kirkley Village Shops" signs and planters, said traders were frustrated.

"They wanted us to cut the arrows off but these are expensive signs and so we have now covered the arrows up, but our signs have not caused this problem because it's been going on for many years," she said.

"The biggest problem is there isn't a 'No Right Turn' sign anywhere on the approach to Waterloo Road.

"It's such an easy fix but it's very frustrating because Suffolk Highways say they are not going to do it."

Glen Manship, managing director of Red Hot Media Limited, said: "I've been here for more than 18 years and I have regularly seen two or three cars going the wrong way in Waterloo Road most days.

"The issue is that the correct road signage is not in place and it's an accident waiting to happen."

Alice Taylor, from The Rum Lot, said: "All the traders want our customers to be safe and for drivers to know where they are going and anything that officials can do to help that would be a great thing."

KIRKLEY POCKET PARKS A black sign reading "Kirkley Village Shops" with an arrow pointing to shopping area can be seen in a seafront settingKIRKLEY POCKET PARKS
The village signs include arrows encouraging shoppers to visit the area, but two signs have now had their arrows covered up following concerns raised by highways officials

A Suffolk Highways spokesperson said: "Suffolk County Council is exploring alternative solutions to prevent road users from accessing Waterloo Road via Victoria Terrace.

"Potential measures include new road markings, additional signage, and repositioning a planter.

"We will continue to monitor the concerns and keep key stakeholders informed."

GUY CAMPBELL/BBC A lamppost in a street with cars parked either side and attached to the lamppost is a blue sign with a white arrow on it indicating it is a one way streetGUY CAMPBELL/BBC
Campaigners said attaching a "No Right Turn" sign to this lamppost would help to solve the issue

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