‘I’ve never seen a duck here’: Councillor hits out at £7,000 duck warning sign
A councilor has hit out at a £7,000 road sign about passing ducks after claiming he had never seen one in the area.
John Knott, who sits on Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, said there was no pond or water near the sign attached to a lamp post on Daws Heath Road near Southend-on-Sea. He said residents were left “in disbelief” and branded the sign “ridiculous”.
An Essex Highways spokesman said the temporary sign was erected because ducks frequently crossed the road due to its proximity to a nature reserve.
Speaking to the BBC, Major Knott, who represents St Michael’s Ward, said: “I’ve lived here for 25 years and I’ve never seen a duck cross the road, we don’t have a pond, we don’t have water, it’s ridiculous.”
He criticized the “huge” amount of money spent on what he described as a “wrong” sign, adding that residents considered it a “joke”.
He added: “This is a huge amount of money for something that is a false sign. Residents are stunned; it has become a running joke and everyone says there are no ducks in Daws Heath. People can’t believe it.”
Essex Highways, which is responsible for roads in the area, said ensuring road users were “aware of potential dangers” and keeping surrounding wildlife safe was “an essential part of our mission”.
A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “This temporary wildlife warning sign was installed because ducks frequently pass through this area due to its proximity to a nature reserve.
“Ensuring road users are aware of potential hazards is an important part of our mission to keep both people and surrounding wildlife safe.
“Warning signs are placed only where needed based on safety surveys, resident reports and recommendations from highway officials.”
