A RUBERY couple have taken it upon themselves to clean road and street signs in their area which they say have been neglected by the council.
Martin and Tina Powell, of Gunner Lane, took action to spruce up various signs on Whettybridge Road which connects Rubery to the A38.
The couple said they became frustrated by the lack of action to clean the signs and were inspired by local community litter-picking group the Rubery Wombles to do it themselves.
They said: “Shout out to Rubery Wombles. They do a fantastic job.
“The signs seemed to be no longer attended to and were just getting worse and worse.
“It became frustrating they weren’t being dealt with.
“It sent out the wrong message to everyone and wasn’t a true representation of the lovely area we live in.
“Relying on the local council to get this done would be more ideal but we felt it best to provide a solution as opposed to just complaining.”
Residents took to Facebook to praise the couple in local community groups.
“The cost was minimal, just a couple of scourers, mould spray and washing up liquid.
“The positive responses on the local Facebook community groups has been overwhelming and makes it all the more worthwhile.
“It has been a great feeling to have had so much support from everyone and it’s looking like we’ve started something that we would be more than happy to grow and continue doing.
“It just goes to show that community spirit is still alive and thriving.”
A Bromsgrove District Council spokesperson said: “Our dedicated teams work closely with colleagues at the county council to ensure signs are kept clean and free of graffiti.
“Heavy traffic, poor weather and environmental factors can cause temporary dirtiness to signs between rounds so we value the watchful eyes of our residents in bringing issues to our attention.
“Where they are reported to us, we or Worcestershire County council will go out to investigate and rectify any issues.
“We ask well-meaning residents to please avoid trying to clean Highway Road signs, or street name plates which are close to busy roads, due to safety risks.
“We appreciate community efforts to keep our district looking it’s best and this greatly assists our hard-working teams.”
They added they could offer residents wanting help support including guidance, safety advice and equipment, such as litter pickers and blue bags.
Residents can report concerns at bromsgrove.gov.uk or by calling 01527 881188.
