Essex mayor Sherry Bondy is responding to criticism over the restoration of the Harrow archway.
The archway is located on McAffee Street leading to Harrow Arena.
The original Colchester South and Harrow Agricultural Society sign was recently restored but now includes the Town of Essex logo on each pillar supporting the arch.
Speaking on AM800’s Mornings with Mike and Meg, Bondy says Harrow residents are passionate about Harrow’s identity and are upset about the Essex branding.
“We may have to look at what we can do to ensure that people feel that the sign is reflecting of their identity,” says Bondy. “I honestly didn’t think anything of it myself.”
She says the sign belongs to the Harrow Fair board.
“Council didn’t see it, so I didn’t approve it,” she says. “I didn’t see it, so that’s one of the things that I want to look at is how the council can have some say for gateway signs because at the end of the day we’re blamed for everything, but this is something that didn’t come to our desk.”
Bondy wants to explore options that better reflect Harrow’s identity.
“If we have to dial down the Essex branding in Harrow, I think I’m okay with that; we just have to see what it’s going to cost,” says Bondy. “At the end of the day, there are people that can’t feed their families right now, and there are a lot of other priorities, but identity - identity is a priority too, so I don’t want to dismiss the concerns of the residents.”
Bondy took to social media on Monday to discuss the archway.
In her post she says the restoration of the 1954 original looks fantastic, but the addition of the “Essex” branding has understandably sparked a lot of conversation.
She goes on to say the landmarks that define our local identity deserve direct council oversight and plans to introduce a motion to mandate a formal council design review for all future gateway and prominent community signage.