New Billericay Sign Idea Rejected by Council

Monday, 06 February 2012 10:20

A Billericay resident has sketched a new design for a sign featuring local landmarks and points of historical interest from across the town, but it has been rejected by councillors.

The sign was designed to help mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee events being organised by the Town Council (Read More), but after being rejected the designer, Councillor Terence Gandy has described the rejection as "undemocratic" and fuelled by "personal issues".

A meeting of the councils finance and general purpose committee threw out the ideas for the new sign before it had reached the full council meeting or which Mr Gandy did not attend.

"It's undemocratic and political, it's because I represent UKIP and they are Conservatives," said Mr Gandy.

"There are some personal issues on the council. Some of them don't get on with me, they want to run things there in their own way and they don't like it when new things come along."

The sign consists of a shield containing two images of the Mayflower ship, the Essex emblem and the flag of St George. It also features figures representing Billericay's connection with the pilgrim fathers, who met in the town before sailing off to form the colony of Plymouth in Massachusetts.

Mr Gandy commented that the sign was not designed to replace the towns current emblem and wanted to see it placed at Sun Corner.

"Although it's aimed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee it could be quite pleasant when it's up there," added Mr Gandy, "but [the town council] just don't want to know about it."

Given his absence from the full council meeting on Thursday, the council resolved not to discuss the proposition any further having already unanimously voted in favour of the finance and general purposes committee's recommendation to take no further action on the matter.

"It just beggars belief that anyone would imagine we would change our image," said town council chairman, Councillor John Buchanan.

"The matter has been dealt with by the town council, there is no personal issue, we are following our procedures.

"I would say Councillor Gandy was not committed to his proposal because he was not here to propose it – he didn't come to the meeting to present it."

Tell us what you think

What do you think about this news story? Tell us below or tweet @billericayessex or find us on Facebook