Coalville tourist attraction signs 'too vague'

Traffic from the A42 is now directed along the A511 Coalville by-pass to "other tourist attractions"

A new road sign highlighting tourist attractions in a town in Leicestershire has been criticised by campaigners for being "too vague".

The sign has replaced one for the now closed Snibston Discovery Museum, in Coalville, but residents want better promotion for existing attractions.

John Merison, from the chamber of commerce, said the local economy could be damaged as a result.

The county council said it was part of a scheme to de-clutter its signage.

The sign recently appeared at Hoo Ash Island, near the A42, and points to "additional Coalville tourist attractions".

Mr Merison, from the North West Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I think it typifies the people that put these together [and] what they think of our region.

"They don't really understand it and very often they don't come from here, this is what causes some of the problems."

He said Snibston brought in about £4.5m to the local economy and fears the area could miss out further if remaining attractions including the Century Theatre, the country park and Donington Le Heath Manor House, are not maintained and promoted better.

The authority announced the closure of Snibston in 2013 to help meet its savings target of £86m by 2019.

A battle to keep it open ended when an appeal was rejected in the High Court, in July.

A county council spokesman said the new signs were put in about a month before the museum closed.

He said they were part of a wider signing scheme to "de-clutter and rationalise directional signing" and those which mention Snibston were removed to avoid confusion for motorists.

Snibston Discovery Museum closed on 31 July after a local running battle to keep it open