Yobs continue to wreck safety signs

Each of the notices at the entrances to the Pagham Beach estate has been smashed to pieces four times in just four months.

Resident Rob Castle spent several hundred pounds having the notices made. But he said the latest attack had made him think he was wasting his time.

'I have no idea why anyone would want to keep destroying the signs,' he said. 'It's ridiculous. People were taking notice of the signs.'

Safe driving signs were in place when Mr Castle moved into Lagoon Road five years ago.

But these disappeared. The upsetting death of the family's cat last August prompted him to act.

He believes the cat, who was killed in a hit and run accident in broad daytime, was knocked over by a speeding motorist to emphasise the dangers of motorists who recklessly drive through the estate..

The private estate's roads are unmade tracks with a 10mph speed limit. To try to alert motorists to that fact, Mr Castle had two 10mph signs made and two notices urging motorists to drive slowly because speed kills.

One each of the signs was placed at the entrances to Harbour Road and Lagoon Road.

The rectangular signs measured at least three feet by two feet.

The number signs were made from flexible plastic and the written ones were foam board. They were fixed on wooden posts concreted into the ground.

Each cost Mr Castle between 35 and 50 to have made.

He placed a 10mph sign outside his home as well. This has also been smashed.

'The signs helped to tell people that the roads had a 10mph speed limit,' explained Mr Castle.

'People who don't live around here may not know that.

'The speed of drivers on this road is just getting out of hand. They must be driving along at 30-40mph. It's not good. There's no need for people to drive up and down here at what are stupid speeds.'