Cash should not override road safety, says Lib Dem

8.54.34pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 12th Feb 2007

"These signs will further distract drivers along a busy road" says Cllr David McBride

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride has urged the Council's Development Control Committee not to give planning permission for illuminated signs on lamp posts along Cray Avenue, Orpington.

The please came as the Committee voted to defer the applications in order to visit the site and to get more information on the signs.

Cllr McBride has found out that each sign would bring in nearly £3000 a year for the Council. It also emerged that the lamp posts would be replaced for free, meaning the Council won't need to replace them.

However, Cllr McBride has said that the road had a high number of accidents, with 56 being reported in the past three years. The road is also cluttered with signs for the Nugent Estate, local shops, the Cray Avenue Bus Lane and other road signs.

"I am really worried that these signs will further distract drivers along a busy road," said Cllr McBride. "The large majority of the 56 accidents were in dry weather where the driver had collided with another vehicle. Any further distractions can only add to these statistics," he added.