Chevrons and wilting flowers to go at scruffy Anchor Hill traffic island

ANOTHER Axminster eyesore is in line for a tidy up.

Mayor Andrew Moulding told town councillors last week that progress was finally being made over plans to give the Anchor Hill roundabout a facelift.

He said an enhancement scheme could be on the cards after talks with highways officials who have agreed that the big black and white chevrons, which surround the flower bed, can go.

“We would have to leave the blue arrows but it would be much better,” he said.

The news follows protests at the state of the roundabout which greets visitors entering the town from the west.

Amongst the angry residents was well known local man Peter Bunce.

He said while the Rodney Rendell site was a blight on the town’s northern approach the roundabout at the bottom of West Street was also an awful eyesore.

He said the plants there were all well past their sell-by date and he wondered why the structure was covered in chevrons, when it was clear which way round drivers should go. A wall with some flowers would make it look much better.

“Compared to places like Sidmouth nothing seems to be spent here, “ he told The Herald. ”We want to take a bit of pride in our town.”

Mr Bunce has also condemned the mis-matched Guildhall doors - one faded by the sun - the ugly concrete posts in the council car park outside, frequently blocked road drains and an untidy section of the Co-op car park.

Meanwhile fund raising is continuing to pay for an art installation to cover the front of the derelict former Websters Garage in the town centre. Councillors were told that some money was still needed towards the �5,000 cost but it was hoped to start work in the New Year.