A number of signs on Sittingbourne High Street which highlight the town’s heritage are to be removed just weeks after being installed.

This is because they are thought to be too imposing.

The new street furniture was part of a project involving three county councillors to spruce up the town centre.

Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab) joined forces with Ukip’s Mike Baldock and Lee Burgess to commission £35,000 in makeover works, including the heritage signs, repainting some of the waste bins and the addition of five new benches.

The work was carried out by Kent Highways using its own money combined with cash from grants available to councillors.

But now, despite them only being in place for a fortnight, Cllr Truelove (Swale Central) has confirmed that at least five will be taken away.

He said: “I have arranged for some of the signs to be moved.

“Three of the signs are in the High Street, and two in the lower High Street that are blocking the footpath. These signs were actually from Highways money – it was KCC money. It was money for road safety.

“I just think the signs are too imposing.”

The decision follows numerous people using social media to complain about their size, where they are positioned, and how much money was spent on them.

One Facebook user wrote: “New 20mph/no entry signs gone up outside The Ypres next to the old ones which means we now have two no entry signs outside about six feet apart from each other.

“Looks stupid but when I asked the council workman if they were taking the old ones down they said there were no plans to remove the old ones.

“Does this town really need all that money spent on the same signs every few yards? No one comes to our town anyway...money could have been better spent elsewhere.”

Another commented: “They are a total waste of money.”

Cllr Truelove said that any costs incurred having them taken away would come from his members’ allowance.