Spelling blunders on £170,000 town centre signs

BBC Black wrought-iron arch reading 'New Squares, Penrith' with a town skyline silhouette, framing a quiet pedestrian steet. Two flower planters stand either side of the sign; a yellow curved balcony building and shop with blue signage can be seen on the right.BBC
Penrith is one of 22 towns to benefit from the Place Programme, aimed at boosting economic activity locally

New signage in a town centre, costing £170,000, has been found to contain spelling errors, including misspelling the name of the local church.

The signs, in Penrith, are part of an initiative to improve navigation around the Cumbrian town and showcase its history and heritage.

But at least two of the signs spell St Andrew's Church as 'St Andew's Church'.

The scheme, funded through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, includes directional signs, walking route maps and information panels designed to help visitors explore the town.

Penrith Town Council said it was taking steps to correct the mistakes.

A council spokesperson said: "The council is aware of a small number of minor spelling errors on some of the recently installed wayfinding and interpretation signs.

"These were identified following installation, and work is under way to arrange the necessary corrections.

"The town council apologies for any dissatisfaction this setback may have caused."

Supplied A close-up of a red sign, with blue sky and some buildings on the horizon visible behind it. The white text reads 'St Andew's Church', with 'approximately 8 minute walk' in white lettering underneath.Supplied
Some of the signage spelling is incorrect, including two references to the local church

Former town councillor Jeff Thomson said the mistakes raised questions about who had approved the signs, and who would pay for the corrections.

"Wrong spelling is a wholly unacceptable error and requires correction," he said.

"It certainly must not be the public purse," he said, referring to who would pick up the bill for the mistake.

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal is a long-term cross-border economic investment programme involving the UK and Scottish governments and five local authority areas.

The Deal's Place Programme is focused on making towns, such as Penrith, more economically vibrant and attractive to visitors.

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