A £40,000 Hollywood-style sign in Eltham that has been broken for months has become an “eyesore”, one of the area’s local councillors has said.
The illuminated wooden sign was installed in July 2017 as part of a £6 million high street regeneration project. It was widely mocked on social media when it was unveiled, even making the national press.
Six years on, the lights have broken and the council has struggled to work out how to repair them, but staff are now to be asked to come up with a “low-cost” repair.
Pat Greenwell, the Conservative councillor for Eltham Town, said she had raised the issue “so many, many times over the years”, but she was pleased to hear that the problem may soon be fixed.
“It has become an eyesore instead of being a flagship for the local community,” she said.
Mariam Lolovar, the cabinet member for inclusive economy, business and skills, said in a written answer to last week’s Greenwich Council meeting: “An initial investigation by the street lighting team into the electrical supply showed that the fault was within one of the wooden letters. Because the power supply to the letters run in series it is not possible to identify which letter it is.
“However, in light of this issue being so longstanding, I have asked the service to see if any low-cost repair may be possible and we will pursue this as soon as possible.”
Last October Greenwell said that the sign, which was paid for with a grant from Transport for London, was being used as a toilet by late night drinkers.