WORLD-famous author and former Daily Echo sub-editor Bill Bryson is backing a scheme to protect the appearance of historic English streets.

He has lent his weight to a joint initiative between English Heritage and the WI to tackle a rising tide of signs, posts, bollards, poles and bar-riers which they claim are ruining the appear-ance of historic villages, towns and cities.

The organisaton has identified examples of good and bad practice nationwide and has named Muscliff Lane in Bournemouth as one of the most offensive.

English Heritage criticised "ugly traffic calming and signs in the rural lane".

The outside of the Custom House on Poole Quay has been named as one of the best examples and has been praised for "good use of materials and detailing". The area is also praised for being paved in Purbeck stone.

The Save Our Streets campaign has been launched nationwide and WI members will be carrying out street audits and putting pressure on local authorities to clear away the clutter and improve the appearance of the streets.

"Once England had some of the most elegant streets in the world and was famed for the quality of its street furniture," said Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage.

"Today it is a different story - our historic streets are being trashed by thoughtlessness and cheap design. Some of the worst culprits are local authorities. We need to view our streets as historic places rather than using them as a dumping ground."

The thoughtless siting of street furniture has also been blamed for preventing the streets from being accessible to everyone.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mr Bryson said: "The streets aren't that bad, it's not a matter of national shame or anything like that but things could be better. There is a lot of clutter and I'm sure it has got worse over the 30 years or so since I first came here." But he added: "Britain is still a very attractive place to be."

First published: October 15