CREWE Town Council has hit back at the leader of Cheshire East Council after he branded the town’s new ‘Welcome to Crewe’ signs as appalling.

Clr Michael Jones, speaking at Monday’s Cheshire East Council cabinet meeting, said the new signs were ‘appalling’.

He said: “I think they’re appalling – bad design. I think they’re dangerous, they’ve got the wrong edge to them, they’re in the wrong place. I think the town council have got it wrong.”

The signs were funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government and Crewe were the first council in the country to be offered this money and told the Guardian it was ‘proud of that achievement’.

But Clr Kevin Hickson, leader of Crewe Town Council, said he was shocked to hear the comments from Clr Jones and said the signs had in fact been installed by Cheshire East Highways Department and designed with the borough authority’s help.

“There was a full consultation with Cheshire East Council about the signs and they were designed, fabricated and installed by Cheshire East at locations which they chose,” he said.

“It is clear he does not know what is going on in his own authority and I suggest he checks his facts before replying to leading questions.

“The signs are a benefit to the town and were funded by DCLG we have received positive feedback about the signs and frankly it is astounding that Cheshire East never had the where with all to put something in, in the first place.

“This is a first step to help improve civic pride in the town of Crewe.”