Residents are being reminded that stealing or moving town signs is an ‘act of criminal damage’, with repairs to be funded ‘at public expense’, after Frome’s welcome sign was found in another Somerset town earlier this month.
The ‘Welcome to Frome’ sign disappeared and was later discovered on the B3355 in Midsomer Norton, about 10 miles away. A sign for Kilmersdon, a village in Somerset, was also moved and appeared in Frome.
Frome Town Council said the incident had damaged the Frome sign in transit and would now ‘cost time and money to resolve.’ It described the situation as a ‘sad sign of the times.’
Somerset Council is the authority responsible for road signs, including the Welcome to Frome sign, and said the sign will need to be repaired at public expense.
“We are aware of this latest incident and remind those involved that this is an act of criminal damage which will need to be repaired at public expense. If residents see something like this happening, they should contact the police,” said a spokesperson for Somerset Council.
The incident comes after a similar case last month, when Bradford-on-Avon’s welcome sign was stolen and later found over 60 miles away in Portland, Dorset.
Pictured: The welcome sign in Midsomer Norton – Credit Frome Town Council
