COUNCILLORS have blasted a millennium town centre sign welcoming visitors to Clitheroe.

Ribble Valley Council's community committee heard that the town council wants to erect the sign at the junction of Moor Lane and Lowergate in the town centre.

The sign will welcome visitors to Clitheroe, but Coun Harry Backhouse criticised the choice of site.

"Visitors will have been in Clitheroe for a couple of minutes before they see it. It's like welcoming them to Clitheroe when they are already there," he said.

But the Mayor of Clitheroe, Coun John McGowan, said other sites had been ruled out by highways chiefs on safety grounds because the sign might restrict the view of motorists.

Ribble Valley Council engineering manager Graham Jagger told the meeting that the borough council owned the intended site.

"The question arises whether or not to agree to the request from the town council and, if so, subject to what conditions," he said.

Chairman Graham Jagger said it was not up to the committee to decide whether the site was appropriate or not.

Councillors agreed to the request of the town council that the land be used for the siting of a millennium sign.

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