Plans for new signage in Bromyard

A Herefordshire town aims to make itself more appealing with 15 new pieces of street furniture.

Aiming to put recent controversy over its rebranding plans behind it, Bromyard Town Council has applied for permission to mount the signs around the town, thanks to a government grant.

It intends to put up five “wayfinding finger posts”, three of which would replace existing signs; four new “wayfinding totems” – flat pillar-like structures with more information; five new street signs, of which three would project outwards; and a new notice board at the Public Hall.

The town has been given a grant from two Government funds intended to support town centres and tourist attractions welcome back shoppers and visitors following the pandemic.

Bromyard was given £90,000 from the Great Places to Visit fund, and along with the county’s other four market towns, a further £20,000 from the Welcome Back Fund.

A consultation at the town’s Conquest Theatre in April, and at the office of K4 Architects in the town, gave residents the chance to give views on how this should best be spent – after which “comments and concerns were taken into consideration and changes were implemented”, the new application says.

This led to the dropping of the idea of the town’s branding including a reverse letter D, which had drawn national media attention.