MP Oliver Heald is supporting town councillors in the battle against plans to take down a brown tourist sign on the A10 near Buntingford. Mr Heald, MP for North East Herts, believes the sign located near Westmill should remain in place – and a safety sche

MP Oliver Heald is supporting town councillors in the battle against plans to take down a brown tourist sign on the A10 near Buntingford.

Mr Heald, MP for North East Herts, believes the sign located near Westmill should remain in place - and a safety scheme should be implemented instead.

But the Highways Agency says the sign has got to come down because it does not conform to specific requirements, nor does it comply to any tourist sign regulations for trunk roads published last year.

Mr Heald said: "They seem to be happy to spoil people's enjoyment of Buntingford. I think it's very sad.

"The sign has been there for a long time. It's a nice thing for the people of Buntingford, and shopkeepers like it because it brings people to the town.

"I will continue to press the Highways Agency so it doesn't take the sign down."

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "A safety scheme is being implemented on the A10 at Westmill to help direct drivers safely through the junction and warn of existing road conditions, together with confirmation of the speed limit through signing, lining and coloured surfacing.

"This scheme has undergone detailed investigations in which a number of potential safety improvements were considered before the scheme was designed, as well as comments and suggestions from local residents."

When the sign is removed it will be offered back to Hertfordshire Highways in case it wants to re-use it in the future.