DRIVERS in a major city have been left stunned by an “unfortunate” spelling error on a local road sign – prompting an apology from the council.
The local authority confirmed that the error would be corrected as a “priority”.
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Residents of Chelmsford, Essex, were dismayed to find that the sign misspelt the city’s name.
Aiming to inform motorists of where each exit of the upcoming roundabout will take them, the contractor employed by the council to create the sign managed to nail the spelling of London, Colchester and even the small town of Harwich.
However, when it came to the county’s third-largest city, they fluffed their lines, with the A138 carrying drivers to the fictional town of “Chelmsord”.
It is not known how long the sign has been in place, but Google Street View images taken in June 2023 do not show it as being erected.
Likewise, it does include a reference to the Beaulieu Parkway Bridge, which was only opened in October.
The embarrassing blunder prompted an apology from Essex County Council, who called it an “unfortunate mistake”.
A statement from Essex Highways, a division of the council, read: “A developer was responsible for the printing and installation of the sign, not Essex Highways.
“When Essex Highways signed off the design of the road sign, there was no spelling error.
“The developer concerned is aware that the sign needs to be replaced as a priority and at no cost to Essex taxpayers.
“We will ensure the developer installs the replacement as soon as possible.”
It comes as a city over in the US is preparing for traffic chaos of its own as it opens its first-ever roundabout.
Meanwhile, architects gave a glimpse into the car park of the future, which could see motors stacked in cylindrical “lifts”.
