Yes, you can send an email via the council website to complain and ask when these are going to be replaced. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a response. You won’t get one.

Where is their Vibrant Spaces program when you really need it? Maybe this program is only relevant to issues that are at eye level.

Where is Wingham Chamber of Commerce on the replacement of these sad reflections of our town? Surely they should be championing the replacement of the banners with Midcoast Council. We have the new planter boxes and seating in place, which Chamber have provided and are assets to beautifying our town. Let’s continue the push for our town that can be proud to show off its beauty and history.

With major events encouraging thousands of visitors scheduled in Wingham for May, including the 2018 Wingham Beef Week and the Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival, I think we need to send a map to the ‘powers that be’ at Midcoast Council on how to find their way to our town and actually look up to see what we have to look at on a daily basis.

Please help us Midcoast Council and Wingham Chamber of Commerce. Let’s fix Wingham.

Elaine Turner

Killawarra

Editor’s note: We sought a response from MidCoast Council and the Wingham Chamber of Commerce on this issue. Their responses are reprinted below.

MidCoast Council:

“We are currently in the process of removing all Manning Valley banners, as an interim measure while a strategy is developed for moving forward. The remaining two in Wingham were due to be removed on Wednesday, March 28, and there are a couple in Taree which will be removed with the power boats banners coming down after Easter.

“The Manning Valley banners were originally produced as part of a specific tourism campaign – and because they weren’t designed to stay up 12 months of the year, they’ve now become damaged due to the elements. 

“We’re currently looking at the best way to manage main street banners in all locations going forward, and agree they are a great addition to the streetscape of towns throughout the region.

“In Wingham we’ll be working closely with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure our forward plan complements other main street initiatives that have been undertaken there recently.”

Wingham Chamber of Commerce:

“I was confident that the matter was in hand for the longer term but I realise now too many months have passed. It was clear from the storm damage that the design needs to be revisited and I understand that the relevant team in council is looking into that. I will ensure that our chamber does what it can to speed up the process.

“In our voluntary organisation, there will always be more ideas than there is capacity to execute.  We have been actively discussing and supporting various projects proposed by the community organisations in our town.

“Also some initiatives are underway to ensure that “we are a town to be proud of”. The most important one that comes to mind is an overdue initiative of our chamber, the formation of an Activation Committee.  Some of those who had planned to be active in such a committee have been unable to be and so we are back at the drafting table with limited hours available.  Simon Brown and I will co-chair the committee until such time as we find other suitable volunteers.”

Liz Jarvis, Wingham Chamber of Commerce president