MP gives backing to Polish road signs

IC Cheshire Online

Feb 21 2007
By Jamie Oliver, Crewe Chronicle

CREWE and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody has backed the decision to put up Polish road signs to help migrant drivers in South Cheshire.

And she says Cheshire County Council is fully within its rights to erect them.

Highways bosses have spent hundreds of pounds putting up eight diversion signs on the A534 at Faddiley and the A49 to Ridley to help bemused Polish drivers.
Labour MP Mrs Dunwoody, also chair of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, said: 'Cheshire County Council is showing a commendable sense of responsibility and I just cannot see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over this simple matter.
'There was a clear and urgent need for these temporary signs to deal with a situation before someone was involved in an accident - and not after.

'The county council has a responsibility to ensure the safety of motorists and I am grateful we have an authority in Cheshire with the common sense to put safety before bureaucracy.'
She added:
'It is highly unlikely that the signs are illegal because of the juxtaposition of the two languages and I am perfectly willing to take up the matter with the Department of Transport immediately.
'Until we can be sure of the nationality of every driver on our road network, it is far better to take direct action that to wait for someone else to add to our accident statistics.'

But the signs have been criticised by some road users and councillors. Crewe and Nantwich borough council-lor Stan Davies, whose ward covers Faddiley, said: 'It is barmy that these signs have been put up, and it puzzles me why the Polish have been singled out on this.
The county council deny the Polish road signs are the result of 'political correctness'.

The county says many of the 3,000 Poles living in the Crewe area work at local companies but cannot yet read English and the situation has not been helped by many Polish lorry drivers using Cheshire's A-roads as a shortcut from the M6.

The county has consulted with the Government office for the North West which clarified it is principally a matter for the county council as the local highways authority to determine.
County engineer Steve Kent said:
'They have agreed on our behalf to look into the issue of formal authorisation for the signs.
'As the authority responsible for the A49, it is our duty to make a judgement having balanced a particular safety issue against strict adherence to national guidelines.
'We are of the firm opinion that in this instance the safety benefits take precedence.
'Furthermore, while the signs do not strictly follow national guidelines in terms of metric measurements, we do not believe they are un-lawful.'