Chester students urged to give up traffic cones

Feb 24 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

STUDENTS are attracted to traffic cones like magpies are to glittery objects.

And student digs all over Chester are no doubt littered with ‘men at work’ signs, cones and even flashing lights.

Such objects are often taken as trophies at the end of a drunken night but now Chester Students’ Union and police want them back, with no questions asked, as part of an amnesty.

The action follows complaints from gas workmen in Northgate Street that items have been going astray, causing unnecessary expense and hassle in replacing them as well as potential dangers for members of the public.

Students’ union president Dechlan Jarrett wrote on Facebook: “OK, so construction and traffic signs are constantly going missing.

“These are extremely expensive pieces of equipment which is needed for safety more than anything else. So we are proposing an amnesty whereby students bring any signage they may have in their house or garden, and give them back. Because let's be fair, not much is gonna come of them being stuck in a house!

“In all seriousness, taking signage is a criminal offence, and from now on if students are caught, Cheshire police are to have no hesitation in disciplining you.”

He wants students to drop off their hoard of cones and signs on the grass in front of the students’ union next Monday (February 28).

University liaison officer PC Steve Baldwin said it was unclear who was taking the signs. But he urged general transgressors to either take them back to where they came from or drop them off at their local police station.

He added: “It might seem like a bit of fun but it can endanger life if a sign is taken from by a big hole. People could walk into it or drive into it.”

Dr Lesley Cooke, dean of students at the university, said: “This kind of behaviour applies not only to students. For example, as Chester has now become a destination for stag and hen parties, and hosts annual race meetings, the excessive drinking which these traditionally entail can also attract anti-social activities.”