Arguably, one of the best things about our country, is the fact that we have so many sites of outstanding natural beauty and cultural importance, which the plublic can enjoy for free. It's fantastic that we can offer our tourists and countrymen a taste of our history without commercialisation, but it's also important to remember that without regulation comes risk.
When a space is beyond the realm of regular monitoring and supervision, it only stands to reason that safety will be compromised, particularly in isolated areas with ageing structures. While some may say that the duty to act sensibly and safely remains with the visitor, this hardly seems like an adequate reason to exclude standard safety procedures from these highly popular sites.
Earlier this month, news broke that there had been disagreements amongst councillors and residents in West Yorkshire, after safety signs were erected on the site of the Top Withens ruins, known for their association with Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. The brightly coloured but not overly large signs were criticised soon after their installation, with many claiming that the addition spoilt the natural view. After much discussion and deliberation, Yorkshire Water came to the decision to remove and replace the signs, and are are currently working on a replacement that will 'blend in' with the landscape.
While I'm sure we can all agree that an appreciation of natural beauty is important, we can't help but feel that making safety signs 'blend in' completely defeats the object. Safety signs are meant to stand out to catch the eye of the reader, they are meant to be prominent in order for the public to comprehend their warnings. When safety signs are simply put in place in order to tick a box, they become completely redundant. Protecting public safety should always be a priority, and without warnings not to climb or deface the structure, this valuable piece of history could well be lost altogether!
We can only hope that when the sign redesign is actioned, those involved will keep in mind that while it doesn't hurt to make it more visually appealing, the ultimate purpose should always be to preserve the important messages it is meant to convey. As far as safety is concerned, substance should always come above style.
