Road signs with council logo found fly-tipped

The signs, with the council branding, were found amongst other dumped waste

Road signs with council branding have been found fly-tipped in a public space.

Unused signs for Frankin Drive were spotted dumped alongside bricks and other building rubble behind Ashridge Farm, off Bell Foundry Lane, in Wokingham, Berkshire.

Katrin Harding, Wokingham Borough Council's executive member for the environment, told a council meeting the items were left on private land and the council was "liaising with [the landowner] to get the items removed". She also said the council did not condone fly-tipping.

The BBC asked the council for more information, including how the signs came to be fly-tipped, the but the council said it was unable to comment further.

'Elephant in the room'

Peter Humphreys showed evidence of the fly-tipping to councillors at a full meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on 31 July.

He said: "We often read reports of fly-tipping in the borough and council officers diligently picking through it to find evidence of those responsible.

"However, the culprit is often staring them in the face and, much like the 'elephant in the room', is overlooked.

"My photos show a pile of discarded road name signs with the words Wokingham Borough Council and official crest clearly emblazoned on them, together with various abandoned building materials."

He said the items, which were "only a few metres from a children's playground", could be dangerous and could suggest to children it was "ok to throw rubbish in public places if the council are doing it".

In response, Ms Harding said: "We will always act on any reports of fly-tipping, to clean up our borough and to seek evidence to support the most appropriate legal action.

"On this occasion, we have investigated your report and established that the items are on private land owned by a developer.

"In accordance with this, we are liaising with them to get the items removed and ensure the area is kept clean and tidy for the enjoyment of local residents and users of the play area."