Residents of a tranquil Essex village have been left utterly perplexed after their local authority authorised the installation of a £7,000 road sign warning motorists about crossing ducks—a sight none have ever witnessed in the area.
Villagers Question Council's Avian Awareness
The community of Daws Heath, Essex, has expressed widespread bemusement following the appearance of a triangular warning sign in the village centre earlier this week. The sign, which cautions drivers about potential duck crossings, was installed by a team of six workmen using two vans, an operation that has sparked considerable local confusion.
Villagers maintain they have never observed ducks in the vicinity, noting the absence of any nearby ponds or waterways that would attract such waterfowl. The installation has prompted questions about both the justification for the sign and the substantial public expenditure involved.
'Ludicrous' Expenditure Draws Criticism
Daws Heath councillor John Knott, who has lived in the area for 25 years, labelled the situation as 'ludicrous'. 'Nobody has ever seen a duck crossing or flying over the road,' he stated emphatically. 'Villagers deserve answers as to how such an expensive project was approved.'
The controversy stems from a council application made approximately a year ago. Councillor Knott was approached by residents concerned about roadkill incidents involving badgers and muntjac deer from a nearby nature reserve. He subsequently applied to Essex County Council for a sign warning drivers about deer crossings.
To his astonishment, the quoted cost for this safety measure was £7,000. 'I thought it was a lot of money,' Knott admitted. 'But I expected two new posts set into the ground with concrete.'
Residents 'Up in Arms' Over Cost and Competency
Instead of the anticipated permanent installation, villagers observed workmen simply strapping a triangular warning sign to an existing lamppost. Councillor Knott pointed out that similar signs can be purchased online for around £50, raising serious questions about the £7,000 expenditure.
'The idea that ducks "frequently" cross the road is absolutely rubbish,' he asserted. 'We have a woodland nature reserve close by but it’s full of mammals, not ducks.'
The disparity between the requested deer warning and the delivered duck sign has further compounded local frustration. 'Residents are up in arms about the cost,' Knott explained. 'From both the financial aspect and the competency side, we’d like answers.'
Council Defends Sign Installation
In response to mounting criticism, a spokesperson for Essex Highways provided a statement defending the installation. 'This temporary wildlife warning sign was installed due to ducks crossing frequently in this location as it is close to a nature reserve,' the spokesperson claimed.
The authority emphasised its commitment to road safety, stating: 'Ensuring road users are aware of potential hazards is an important part of our duty to keep people safe on our network.'
The spokesperson further explained the council's decision-making process, noting: 'Warning signs are installed only where there is a genuine assessed need, based on safety surveys, resident reports and recommendations from Highways officers.'
Despite this official explanation, the residents of Daws Heath remain unconvinced, continuing to question both the necessity of the duck warning and the transparency of the expenditure approval process that led to this unusual village addition.
