Members of the British public have been asked to report any pointless street signs as the Government tells councils to cut down on ‘street clutter’.

However, ministers have claimed this could damage the character of some urban spaces.

It is thought that some councils install traffic signs, railings and bollards in the mistaken belief that they are required to be there by law. However, the Government states that signs should be kept to a minimum to avoid visitor/resident confusion.

Examples of street clutter can be found in Salisbury in Wiltshire – which was scattered with bollards. One parking area, for example, had 53 parking spaces… but 63 bollards.

The removal of this ‘street clutter’ from Kensington High Street in London has actually reduced accidents by up to almost 50%.

In 2006, meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Hampshire section of theCPRE (the Campaign to Protect Rural England) found that in one seven-mile section of the B3006 in the South Downs National park, there were – on average – 45 road signs per mile.

Photo by s58y