Banner praising NHS workers removed after council receives anonymous complaints

A banner praising NHS workers had to be removed after a council received anonymous complaints about it.

The 10 foot banner was attached to railings at crossroads on Penmaenmawr Road in Llanfairfechan and read: “NHS, all key workers, Llanfairfechan thanks you.”

But despite historically low traffic levels as a result of the coronavirus lockdown,  Conwy Council was forced to  take it down after two people claimed the sign impaired visibility.

A Llanfairfechan town council spokeswoman said county  council officers were “reluctant” to act on the complaints because of widespread support for key workers and the NHS who are on the frontline of the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19.

But their hands were tied and the banner had to be moved because of safety regulations.

In the end town and county councils worked together to resolve the issue and it was re-sited at the Village Inn pub yesterday.

But the complaints left one local, who asked not to be named, pretty angry: “It’s unbelievable. There’s virtually no traffic, hardly any pedestrians about and the sign gave out a message we all agree with.

“I can’t believe in these times that’s all someone had to worry about. We are fully behind the NHS workers and the work they’re doing – they’re amazing.”

The town council spokeswoman added: “It was brought to our notice there had been an anonymous complaint about the NHS banner at Llanfairfechan crossroads.

“We were very much aware that neither Conwy council officers nor Llanfairfechan Town council wanted to remove the sign, but we were all aware that highway regulations require procedures to be followed.

“Local businesses, town council, Ysgol Babanod and Ysgol Pant y Rhedyn rallied around and an alternative site was quickly found for the banners so that safety rules would not be breached.

“This is a great example of the community working together to achieve a positive outcome and we will all be on our doorsteps cheering for our NHS heroes as usual each Thursday at 8pm.”

A county council spokeswoman said: “We received complaints that the banner was impairing visibility at the crossing on Penmaenmawr Road, so we had to take action on this.

“We worked with the local councillors and the town council and offered to provide help in relocating the banner.

“We’re fully behind the message of support for the NHS.”

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter