Retailers hit out at 'posh' signs

LITTER signs that describe Henley as “posh” have offended retailers in Henley who say that they make the town look elitist and will deter tourists.

The signs, which measure 13cm by 20cm, have been displayed on posts near litter bins in the town centre.

They depict a stick-man wearing a boater hat who is disposing of a tin of caviar and a glass of Pimm’s in a rubbish bin. The sign reads: “In Henley, we don’t put rubbish in the bin… We dispose of refuse in the designated receptacle… we are posh like that!”

It is one of four designs created by Daisy Smith, the town council’s communications manager, as part of a wider initiative to combat litter.

Ms Smith said that the design was intended to be “tongue-in-cheek” after Henley was named as the “poshest town in Britain” by the Daily Telegraph last month.

But retailers have told of their frustration, with some saying that the sign sends the wrong message.

Lorraine Hillier, who runs the Hot Gossip café in Reading Road, said that the sign contributed to clutter in the town and reinforced an existing stereotype about Henley people.

She said: “Some of them were all right but there were others that weren’t. We don’t want to be saying Henley is posh and all of that because people think that already because of the royal regatta. But people here are just normal people, so that sign is the one that created the most upset because it feeds the stereotype. We like a joke but it’s ridiculous. I’d rather them spend the time on doing things to promote the local businesses.

“Also, I do feel that signage is cluttering the town all the time. We want to be having less signage, not more signage. It’s street clutter really, and I think that they ought to get rid of it.”

Laurence Morris, who owns Laurence Menswear in Duke Street, said that he felt taking a light-hearted approach to littering was inappropriate.

He said: “I think the signs were badly designed and they send out the wrong message. For a start the signs are far too small, so they’re a waste of time. You’ve got to be right up close to read them.

“You cannot treat a serious subject like litter in a light-hearted way. You don’t joke about litter, if you’ve got something to say, say it direct, please put your litter in the bin.

“To have a sign like that in Henley and see the headline ‘We don’t put rubbish in the bin’, people read that and that’s all they will see. The way to get people to either take litter home or to put them in the bin is to be polite, not to treat them like kids or idiots with a stupid sign like that.

“It’s amateurish, and we want to encourage people coming into Henley to enjoy it, not to look at us as being stupid.” Mr Morris said that he also took offence to being called posh, which he said does not accurately reflect the people who live in Henley.

He said: “People do not like to be referred to as posh. I can assure you, the people in Henley are not posh. All of the people I’ve spoken to resent being referred to as posh, simple as that.

An independent retailer who wished to remain anonymous, said that they had attended a retail forum at the town hall last week.

Ms Smith attended the forum with Paul Carey, the town centre manager, where about six retailers complained about the signs.

They said: “The feeling was that sign in particular that said Henley was ‘too posh’ to put stuff in the bin just wasn’t the message that we wanted to put across, that it was a bit elitist. With any public communications, the wording needs to be very, very careful.”

Sue Turner, who owns Candela Clinical Hypnosis in Reading Road, said that she thought that more planning should have gone into the signs before they were implemented.

She said: “I think sometimes if you say the wrong thing, you might incite the wrong reaction. You have to sometimes think ahead as to what reactions might come. It’s tongue-in-cheek, I know that, but I just don’t think it was well thought out. I think that sign could rub some people up the wrong way.”

But Andy Andreou, who owns Lilly Dry Clean in New Street, said that he thought the sign was funny and that using humour would encourage more people to comply.

He said: “To have a little bit of humour on something like that, I think people listen to that. I thought it was brilliant and it’s made me want to recycle more. Anything that can put a smile on someone’s face is a good thing and it’s not hurting anyone.”

Ms Smith said there was no intention to offend anyone and that the council was reviewing feedback. She said that the council had also received positive feedback, adding: “The intention was to engage residents and visitors with messaging that was humorous and eye-catching, helping to draw attention to an issue that’s often overlooked.”