Rutland Council Removes All Place Name Signs Following Spate of Thefts
Rutland County Council has taken the drastic step of removing all remaining place name signs across England's smallest county after over a third of them vanished.
The local highways team stepped in to take down the final 17 signs after 10 others were removed without permission.
More than a third of the county's boundary and place name markers have gone missing, triggering swift action from council teams.
The systematic disappearance of the highway markers has been formally reported to Leicestershire Police as theft.
All remaining signs taken down by the highways team have been placed into secure storage while the local authority determines when and how safely they can be reinstalled.
The surge in thefts coincides with heightened local sensitivities surrounding upcoming local government reorganisation, which has sparked fierce debate over the future governance and identity of the historic county.
The unusual spate of thefts highlights deep-rooted local passions regarding Rutland's distinct identity. As council officials weigh the costs and logistics of replacing the missing markers, residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity or sightings of the stolen signs to the police.
Including Market Place, Market Street, Church Street, Crown Walk,
John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.
https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/highstreetoakham
