Council criticises 'no rowing' underpass signs

The signs have been installed next to the Army and Navy roundabout in Chelmsford

A council has advised residents there are better places to row a boat than through a busy underpass.

The warning came after a prankster installed a sign stating rowing was prohibited along the underground route at the Army and Navy roundabout in Chelmsford.

People have been getting "really frustrated" by a perceived lack of action on the city's underpasses flooding, councillor Marie Goldman said.

Essex County Council said it appreciated patience shown while it worked to "mitigate the impacts" of recent heavy rainfall.

The council previously criticised a sign put in place in New London Road, which suggested it would hand out flippers, masks and snorkels to people navigating a separate underpass.

Essex County Council says the signs could mislead residents

"If people are going to be venting their frustrations, there are worse ways they could be doing it," said Ms Goldman, a Liberal Democrat.

"I know it has rained a lot recently, but for several years the underpasses do flood quite regularly and it is really frustrating."

She added that residents could not follow the council's message to travel in an environmentally friendly way if the walking routes were "unusable".

A spokesman for the council said its teams carried out thorough inspections and drain cleaning.

He said false signage could "mislead residents and cause confusion".

"There are plenty of great locations across the county where residents of Essex can safely use rowing boats," he added.

"Our first choice would not be a busy underpass near Chelmsford city centre."