Residents confused as 'Borough of Ebbsfleet' sign is spotted in Longhoughton Avenue
Published: 05:00, 04 April 2023
Residents were left confused after they spotted a sign saying their town was a borough.
The street sign was seen at a new development on Longhoughton Avenue, reading "Borough of Ebbsfleet" above the street name.
Neighbours took their questions online, with the main post asking "when did Ebbsfleet become a borough?"
Comments flooded in, with people mainly confused and frustrated at the misinformation.
Historian and speaker guide Christoph Bull said: "It is not a borough. In fact it is just a large development with no history of its own.
"It is Swanscombe and Northfleet that are the real historic places with real identities."
One person wrote: "It will be a city, but it is now in the Borough of Dartford. What idiots got paid money to produce this rubbish sign? It needs to be replaced."
Another added: "They make this up as they go."
This was not the first sign in Kent to feature misspellings or incorrect information.
In Ashford, a huge sign erected at the new traffic-light controlled junction from Waterbrook Avenue in Ashford mistakenly labels the area of Newtown as "Newton".
Dartford Borough Council is aware of the mistake and in a statement, a spokesman said: "Despite this clear mistake, Ebbsfleet remains a vibrant and growing location within the borough of Dartford.
"Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is liaising with the developer on site to get the street signage changed."
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation CEO Ian Piper said: "The developer has taken it upon themselves to put this designation on street name signs, clearly in error, and EDC are liaising with the developer to get them changed."
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Juliana Cruz Lima