A REVELATION that one-way warning signs at the entrance a road in the centre of Devizes are not legal has spurred the town council into action.

Devizes Town Council was warned that a Wiltshire Council highway engineer had advised that the signs at the High Street junction with Long Street are not big enough or in the right position.

The issue was raised after a number of motorists were seen driving the wrong way down the one way road.

A report to the town council's planning committee said: "A highway engineer has identified a number of issues with the existing 'No Entry' arrangement that are likely to be causing the issue of contravention.

"Unfortunately, it has been concluded that the issues are of such significance that they may result in police enforcement being prevented."

Councillors were told that the main issue was that people new to the town might not spot the existing 'No Entry' sign. The report says: "It would easily be possible for those unfamiliar to the area to unwittingly contravene the restriction due to its lack of visibility."

A number of committee members were worried about the report and called for the issue to be dealt with as a matter or urgency by the Community Area Traffic Group.

Town clerk Simon Fisher pointed out that the junction was in a conservation area so it was not ideal to have a huge sign but the visual aspect had to be balanced with the need to have a sign that could be legally enforced.

He said the sign would need to be 600 cms wide and be on the road itself rather than on the side of the street.

He said: "There are reports that cars are regularly going the wrong way down the street."

Mayor Andy Geddes said: "If the current sign is unenforceable then we need to do something about it. Safety has to come first. There is no point having a sign if it is not enforceable."

The committee voted to tell the Community Area Traffic Group that a new larger sign needed to be put up.