Plans for limit on roadside tributes

Paul Britton

May 14, 2009

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ROADSIDE tributes at the scene of fatal crashes could be removed within 30 days under plans being considered by councillors.

A permanent memorial would instead be built to honour victims.

Bolton council says it wants to assess public opinion before a new policy is officially launched.

It says the plan is in response to `comments and complaints' from motorists who found roadside tributes distracting.

A monument or tree would form the centrepiece of a new tribute site. Four possible locations have been earmarked - Queens Park, Heaton Crematorium, Heaton Cemetery and Bolton Parish Church. Families and friends would be able to reclaim removed roadside tributes within 90 days.

Coun Nick Peel said: "The site of floral tributes and other mementoes at the roadside has become far more common.

"To some they are a way of recognising that a tragedy occurred and to others they are a distraction or an unwanted reminder that someone died in their neighbourhood.

"I have to tread a fine line between these views and work with my officers to find a solution."

Other councils have also come up with policies to deal with the issue.

Oldham says flowers will not be removed until `well after they had perished' - but it could remove items which obstruct a highway.

Tameside says it removes roadside tributes after four weeks - but will extend this `under extenuating circumstances'.

Manchester council also has a 30-day removal policy. But families are then offered a special plaque to be placed near a crash site for a limited number of months.Manchester city council also has a 30-day removal policy for health and safety reasons.

But a spokesman said bereaved families are offered a special plaque to be based near a crash site for a limited number of months.

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Steve (14/05/2009 at 07:54)

This is a load of twaddle. I can understand people being upset by their loss regardless of the circumstances, but there is a time and a place for everything and to be honest on the side of the road littering the area is not it. A persons grief is a private matter for them to deal with in the best way they can so why decorate a lamp post with garage flowers until they rot.
Several years ago a criminal in a stolen car died when he rapped the innocent persons car round a lamp post on a road in Stockport . Every year since then cheap flowers are taped to it for weeks until they are rotting. WHY? A person dying is a tragedy but some are orchestrators of their own demise. These so called tributes should be removed immediately they appear and if they are repeated the culprits prosecuted for littering.

Pandora (14/05/2009 at 11:44)

Well roadside tributes are common here in the Spanish City I live in, some are extremely elaborate affairs, complete with a portrait, and a written synopsis of what actually occurred. When the flowers wilt and die off, they are more often than not replaced by fresh ones. I´m not entirely comfortable with this tradition, but it does make me aware of my driving and my speed when I see a tribute approaching.

Gervaise, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs. (14/05/2009 at 11:57)

"Plans for limit on roadside tributes"

Meanwhile A Boards which litter the pavements and cause pedestrians to give way to people coming the other way - get blown over on windy days etc and are technically illegal are still going to be allowed.

chris (14/05/2009 at 13:13)

We shouldn't have anything on road sides that reminds use of the inherent danger associated with driving.
After all its a god given right to drive and not a privilege we have to earn.

Angie33 , Manchester (14/05/2009 at 13:44)

People who drive everywhere,to work,shops,schools,tend to know the least about whats going on or what has happened outside of their own car.This is a reminder or way of informing them that pedestrians exist.

nyb, ex manc (14/05/2009 at 14:32)

These tributes are in appalling taste. They should all be removed by councils as soon as they appear until people get the message that their private grief is just that, private and personal. People die in accidents of all kinds, not just RTAs'.

caza cs (14/05/2009 at 15:43)

This is a very delicate topic to comment on...
Grief is a terrible thing and sometimes one can
not come to terms with. To loose a loved one in
what ever circumstances is pain beyond belief.
I think that for the 1st year, a birthday, a xmas
you should be allowed to leave a small tribute without
causing to much of a distraction to oncoming traffic.
It is so easy for us to say 'Remove' if it was my
husband, I wouldn't let anyone stop me from leaving
a rose...
I think there is a time scale though but it is a very
difficult approach for the council, there damned if they do
and damned if they don't.

Peregrine Spanswick (14/05/2009 at 15:44)

Watch this space, for this time next year will be a story entitled 'Vandals Damage Roadside Tributes'

I M Freeloader MP, Westminster (14/05/2009 at 16:14)

I am against it. To have a close relative or friend, a child maybe, killed must be awful. A few flowers can't do any harm. This is yet more petty rule-making by the gestapo.

Andanotherthing, Mcr (14/05/2009 at 16:35)

This is not difficult at all. It is a relatively new phenomena that I find disturbing, even unhealthy. I can understand a spouse and children placing a personal flower or even a bouquet. But when friends and neighbours, the morbidly obsessed who never knew but lived quite close skewer a teddy to a railing it has gone to far.

We have grave stones and remembrance gardens for this very purpose.

I am also against the council placing permanent memorials all over the place. Yes, I have lost someone to an accident, yes, greif is painful it is also personal.

citycentre, manchester (16/05/2009 at 16:30)

it seems simple; if the number of people killed is reduced there will be less need for these tributes

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