THE legacy of radio in Chelmsford will be controversially erased from its road signs in a "bureaucratic" debate over word count and safety.
The recognised "Welcome to Chelmsford – Birthplace of Radio" message, printed on ten brown welcome signs surrounding the city, will be removed when they are replaced because the Highways Agency says the sentence distracts drivers.
The ongoing dispute, lasting since Chelmsford was granted city status in 2012, could be resolved when the city and county councils meet on Thursday, January 8.
Critics believe it is the latest in a long line of assaults on the legacy of Guglielmo Marconi, who opened the first wireless factory in Hall Street in 1898 after migrating from Italy.
"It's disgraceful because what now remains of our industrial heritage?" said Marconi Veterans Association chairman Peter Turrall, MBE.
"It's a great, great pity. All Chelmsford now seems to be is housing and flats when it should be waking up to the fact that it was built for the last 30 years upon industry."
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2015 legislation states road users must not be distracted and that "safety must never be compromised".
Ex-Marconi worker of 48 years Mr Turrall, once also the firm's publicity director, believes if the city council has no choice, it could work harder to preserve heritage elsewhere.
Marconi's 1912 New Street factory is being converted into 418 homes and his first Hall Street factory recently got permission to become six flats.
"The latest decision is typical of Chelmsford, they don't wish to recognise the past," said the Patching Hall Lane resident, who believes Marconi's statue behind the Duke Street bus station should be moved to Half Moon Square beside H. Samuel.
"There could be a portable kiosk opposite Shire Hall allowing tourists to know what is available, or where the old Crompton, Hoffmann or Marconi factories were, or at the museums."
Chelmsford Community Radio Off Air Director Matt Eaves, whose team met with Marconi's daughter Princess Elettra in Italy this year, said: "I think it's fair to say that Princess Elettra would be disappointed.
"I think it's a terrible thing if they take those signs down because the whole world listens to radio."
Chelmsford Civic Society chairman Malcolm Noble said: "The civic society is firmly committed to signage generally that reflects the Marconi heritage."
With the Chronicle's help, the council appealed for new sign ideas a year ago and, hampered by the Highways Agency, it decided on an image of Hylands House with: "City of Chelmsford".
The Highways Agency approved the new £50,000 signs, but Essex County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, Rodney Bass, said it should read "County town of Essex" too.
The Highways Agency vetoed this and city council leader Roy Whitehead will meet Cllr Bass next Thursday to discuss.
"The amount of bureaucracy involved has been huge, when all we wanted to do is to replace a few brown signs," said Conservative Cllr Whitehead, who defended his authority's efforts to preserve Marconi's legacy.
"Chelmsford City Council has clearly shown that it respects and demonstrates the Marconi heritage. There is a statue of him by the Civic Centre, we extended the museum at Oaklands to house part of the Marconi collection, we ensured his headquarters in New Street was saved and restored, the new development there is named after him, and we have the radio hut and artefacts at Sandford Mill, where students come to learn the Marconi story."
Cllr Whitehead's colleague Neil Gulliver, the city council cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: "The new design is a lot blander than we would like but we are in no different a position than anyone else in the UK."
