A clever yet costly prankster, dubbed the ‘road sign swapper,’ has once again left residents and authorities scratching their heads across the South West of England. This time, various town welcome signs have been interchanged between distant locations, creating confusion and frustration among local communities.
The phenomenon began in March when road signs started appearing in unexpected places. Signs from Camerton, Somerset, and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset were found in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. In a further twist, a Bradford-on-Avon sign surfaced on Portland in Dorset, while a Waterlip, Somerset, sign made an appearance in Midsomer Norton nearby.
Recently, approximately five weeks later, visitors arriving in Midsomer Norton were greeted by an unexpected ‘Welcome to Frome’ sign. Meanwhile, Frome itself saw a sign for Kilmersdon relocated, adding to the growing list of swapped signs. These towns, all within Somerset, are roughly 10 miles apart, yet the swapped signs have generated significant bewilderment.
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Frome Town Council shared an image of the misplaced sign on its social media channels, explaining the situation: “Frome is the latest town to fall victim to pranksters… this ‘Welcome to Frome’ sign has appeared in Midsomer Norton, with the sign for Kilmersdon making its way here to Frome. It’s a sad sign of the times… Joking aside, it costs time and money to resolve this sort of thing - and it looks as though the sign has been damaged in transit."
The council urged locals in Midsomer Norton to help by returning the sign to community rangers for reinstallation, providing a contact number for anyone willing to assist.
Local authorities have condemned the stunt, emphasizing the unnecessary expense and inconvenience caused by the sign swaps. Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director for Place in Wiltshire, commented on the initial swaps involving Camerton and Bradford-on-Avon: “We are aware that several road signs have been swapped overnight. We are working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to restore the signs and have reported the matter to police for investigation.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council echoed these concerns, removing the erroneous signs as quickly as possible and advising the public to report any misplaced signs via the ‘Fix My Street’ service. Councillor Manda Rigby stated, “This was definitely not a sign put up by the council. The safety and clarity of road signs are crucial, and this incident remains under police investigation.”
The prank has sparked mixed reactions from local residents. Some find the sign swaps humorous and entertaining. One commenter said, “Saw this, so funny—whoever changes the signs is a legend.” Others, however, highlight the financial burden placed on already stretched council budgets. As one resident pointed out, “It may sound amusing, but it’s costing our councils a fortune to replace these signs. If you find it funny, don’t complain when potholes aren’t fixed.”
The ongoing sign swapping saga highlights how seemingly small pranks can lead to wider inconvenience and expense. Authorities continue to monitor and address the issue, hoping to prevent further confusion on the region’s roads.