A local councillor has been left raging over a “ridiculous” duck warning sign that has cost the council an eye-watering £7,000.
John Knott launched a scathing attack on the extortionate road sign, which alerts motorists to duck crossings on Daws Heath Road near Southend-on-Sea.
He insists, however, he has never witnessed a single duck nearby during his quarter-century living there.
Mr Knott, who represents St Michael’s Ward on Castle Point Borough Council, questioned the decision and expense in installing the warning on a lamp post in an area he claims lacks any ponds for ducks to even thrive.
Speaking to the BBC, Cllr Knott said: “I’ve lived here 25 years and I’ve never seen a duck cross the road, we’ve got no ponds, there’s no water, it’s ridiculous.”
The People’s Independent councillor condemned the mammoth sum spent on what he described as an inaccurate and certainly unnecessary sign, expressing concerns about both the cost and apparent incompetence in the decision-making process.
“This is a huge amount of money for what is a wrong sign. Residents are amazed; it’s become a running joke, and everyone says there are no ducks in Daws Heath. People are incredulous,” Cllr Knott added.
He has formally requested an explanation from the authorities, stating that Essex residents deserve proper answers regarding the expenditure.
John Knott launched a scathing attack on the extortionate road sign, which alerts motorists to duck crossings on Daws Heath Road near Southend-on-Sea
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The absence of any nearby water features has left locals particularly baffled by the wildlife warning’s placement.
Fellow People’s Independent councillor Matthew Coates expressed similar bewilderment, noting that residents have been left “puzzled” by the sign’s appearance.
He demanded clarity on the situation, asking: “What the duck is going on?”
Reports indicate that six workmen accompanied by two vans were dispatched to attach the sign to a lamppost in the centre of Daws Heath.
The councillor says he has ‘never seen a duck cross the road’
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GETTYThe installation comes against a backdrop of ongoing safety concerns on the road, with campaigners having previously highlighted issues with speeding traffic and roadkill incidents.
There have also been various crashes on the busy route, prompting calls for speed cameras to be installed.
Essex Highways has defended the temporary wildlife warning, maintaining that ducks regularly traverse the location owing to its proximity to a nature reserve.
A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “Ensuring road users are aware of potential hazards is an important part of our duty to keep people safe, as well as the surrounding wildlife.”
The authority emphasised that such warning signs are only erected where a genuine need has been established through safety assessments, reports from local residents, and recommendations from highways officers.
Essex County Council reiterated that ducks cross the road frequently in the area, while acknowledging that campaigners had previously raised concerns about roadkill on Daws Heath Road.