Residents on a quiet residential street in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire were surprised to see bright yellow ‘School Keep Clear’ markings recently painted outside their homes. The markings were painted on a road where there has been no school for 15 years. Edensor Technology College, which used to be in the vicinity, closed in 2011 after merging with another school miles away. Homeowners expressed disbelief at the mistake and raised concerns about the cost of rectifying it.
One resident, Ali Hassan, emphasized that the absence of a school in the area for 15 years should have been evident to those responsible for painting the markings. The ‘S’ in the sign was also painted upside down, adding to the residents’ frustration. Questions were raised about why the council chose to resurface a road that did not require it while neglecting nearby streets with potholes.
Residents took to social media to express their astonishment, with many noting the incorrectly painted ‘S’. Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader, Jane Ashworth, issued an apology to residents and pledged to investigate the matter. She acknowledged the error, describing the situation as a “mess” and assured residents that parking on the street would not result in fines.
