'˜MADhurst signs criticism is ill founded'

John Trueman, editor of the online community magazine Midhurst Pages, has been waging war on sign clutter for nine years stepping up his campaign when Midhurst became part of the new South Downs National Park. He said MADhurst signs this year were a ‘roadside rash’.

“MADhurst – King & Chasemore signs have appeared everywhere like a roadside rash this year.”

But now Dave West, of Pretoria Avenue, has hit back saying the comments were ‘ill founded and ill advised’.

“The sponsor of these signs is a well established and respected business who has, over the years supported many community events.”

The signs, he said, advertised an event which brought an enormous amount of fun to the town.

“The signs are erected a suitable time before the event, and taken down as soon as possible after the event by a professional company.”

He said Mr Trueman should “concentrate his annoyance at the signage that remains for weeks after an event often nothing to do with our community or, perhaps at the dirty and hidden official signage that is ill maintained by highways.

“We may be in a national park, but we are not a museum, we are a living, breathing, vibrant town which has had its fair share of problem times” and he added “These type of events should be supported, applauded and attended.”

Mr Trueman said he supported MADhurst; but not ‘carte blanche approval of the advertising’.

“My principal concern has been the sudden change in the level and intrusiveness of the sign clutter at the entrance to the Lodsworth business park. Originally a bit of an eyesore – not a good image, I’d suggest, for Lodsworth - this mishmash of signs has suddenly acquired a full-on appearance with the addition of two Madhurst signs.”

He suggested people should contribute to the debate in the SDNPA Forum headed ‘Sign Clutter is Now a Visual Obscenity’.

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