‘Posh’ litter signs did the job, say councillors

LITTER signs which described Henley as “posh” have been effective, say town councillors.

This is despite criticism from retailers who said that the signs make the town look elitist and could deter tourists.

The signs, which measure 13cm by 20cm, have been displayed on posts near litter bins in the town centre.

They depict a stick man wearing a boater hat disposing of a tin of caviar and a glass of Pimm’s into a bin.

It carries the message: “In Henley, we don’t put rubbish in the bin… We dispose of refuse in the designated receptacle… we are posh like that!”

The design is one of four created by Daisy Smith, the town council’s communications manager, as part of a wider campaign to reduce litter.

Ms Smith said the concept was intended to be “tongue-in-cheek” following a Daily Telegraph article that named Henley the “poshest town in Britain”.

But some retailers said that they were frustrated by the signs, saying they sent the wrong message.

Ms Smith submitted a report to the council’s town and community committee which acknowledged that feedback had been “mixed” but added: “It has sparked valuable public conversation.”

Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday last week, Councillor Kellie Hinton said the signs promoted debate.

She said: “They were controversial. I didn’t have strong feelings either way and I did find it really amusing to walk past people taking pictures of them.

“People actually contacted me several times in one week about them.

“I thought it was quite amusing and whether you like them or hate them they have got people talking. That was the point – it did exactly what it was supposed to.”

Councillor Ian Reissmann agreed that the signs had served their purpose.

He said: “This committee asked the officers to carry out a litter campaign and getting it on the front page can’t be a bad thing. People are talking about litter. Whether the wording was appropriate or elitist, people are aware that they should be putting litter in the bin. Then that is job done.”

Laurence Morris, who owns Laurence Menswear in Duke Street, previously told the Henley Standard that taking a light-hearted approach to littering was inappropriate.

He said: “I think the signs were badly designed and they send out the wrong message. For a start the signs are far too small, so they’re a waste of time. You’ve got to be right up close to read them.

“It’s amateurish, and we want to encourage people coming into Henley to enjoy it, not to look at us as being stupid.”

Mr Morris added that he also took offence to being called posh, which he said does not accurately reflect the people who live in Henley.