I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but there have been a lot of new signs going up around Littlehampton during the past few months.
Signs, according to the dictionary’s definition, are an indication or evidence of what is happening or going to happen. The fact there’s lots of new signs must be an indicator that things are happening here.
There are new signs up on the Look and Sea, which now proclaim it to be a ‘heritage centre.’ I can only hope that means they’re replacing the hopeless exhibits that attract more derision than visitors.
The public slipway at the RNLI recently received a shiny new sign
Moving down River Walk and new ‘interpretation’ panels, seven in total I believe, are currently being installed. Quite what information they’ll contain, we’ll have to wait and see. Personally, I don’t think they were needed, and that they’ll only serve to clutter up the pavement.
Look across the river and you’ll see the new Visitor Centre (or the old toilet block if you prefer). The signs there are as horrible as building, as I’m sure most people would agree.
http://tweetphoto.com/25498796Currently, there’s a great sign outside Riverside Fish, proclaiming that Littlehampton lobsters are better than any Canadian rubbish! I guess it’s lucky we don’t have too many Canucks round here!
http://twitpic.com/247jduMoving down to East Beach and as well as the new information signs on the promenade (and elsewhere around town) some may have noticed there is now a ‘Progress’ sign swinging hangman-style from the beacon. I don’t know why that suddenly appeared, but I for one think it’s far from progress and should be put somewhere else.
Then there’s the Bench, where last week Arun put up two signs explaining that the second shelter would be arriving this week (it hasn’t and the signs have also disappeared). I wonder whether the Bench will ever have its own sign? I guess that won’t happen until they agree what name they’re going to call it. At the moment, they can’t seem to make their minds up!
Returning up Pier Road, brings you to the biggest signs that things are changing in Littlehampton. Lidl opens later this month and the building is now bedecked with numerous oversized blue and yellow signs.
Reach the High Street and the fascias of Iceland, Costa and Holland & Barrett are signs that other big names have also recently arrived. However, they are still outnumbered by estate agency signs above numerous empty units, which tell their own story.
Strung across the High Street is a large sign promoting the Friday market, although I suspect that’s something that won’t be flying there for much longer.
Head out of Littlehampton past the station and you might notice some signs on a few of the lamp posts. Chances are, however, you won’t be able to read them, because once again whoever designs these things doesn’t have the first clue that they need to be legible from a moving car.
And just like the terrible signs put up for Armed Forces Day the ones for Speed 10 (yes, that’s what they’re for) are great examples of bad communication.
http://tweetphoto.com/32811420 and
http://tweetphoto.com/32811715 Carry on a little further and you reach Tesco (and I’m not even going to mention that godawful ‘Much more than just a store.’ sign that still blights the Flintstone fence) and as you leave the sliproad you will come across the newest sign in Littlehampton. And this one’s a real corker!
Intended to encourage Tesco shoppers to venture into the town centre, the idea behind it is fine. However, its execution is a lesson in how not to make a sign. Although it’s big, it has no impact whatsoever.
http://tweetphoto.com/32812208 It looks boring and the text on it is too small to read. Indeed, most drivers will only glimpse the words ‘Littlehampton Town Centre’.
http://tweetphoto.com/32812534Design of course is subjective, and some may disagree with me and think it’s OK. But I don’t think anyone could say it does anything to encourage people to come to the town centre. Since when are ‘independent retailers’ and ‘disc parking’ a huge lure? Surely, those responsible for it could have come up with a more compelling message? And if that was beyond them, why didn’t they find someone who could?
Finally, on the subject of signs, I’d like to share a thought I had some months ago for something that would give Littlehampton a sign of its own (instead of the multitude of different versions it currently uses).
The idea was to create something that was fitting for a seaside resort (e.g. fun and colourful) that related to the town (inspired by the beach huts) and, most importantly, could provide a unifying ‘brand’ for signage, marketing and souvenirs.
http://tweetphoto.com/32818086 and
http://tweetphoto.com/32818210The handful of people I’ve showed it to so far were very positive towards it and I’d be interested to know what you think about it.
