Four digital display signs on the Isle of Wight – showing Covid awareness messaging: Hands, Face, Space – have to date, wracked up charges of over £40,000.
The variable message signs (VMS) have been hired by Island Roads through the Highways PFI contract. You might have seen them at Racecourse Roundabout, Coppins Bridge or other locations.
An FOI request was brought to our attention (thanks Adrian), so News OnTheWight sought to find out more.
How costs break down
The Isle of Wight council say the signs are moved around to a variety of “key locations” and they began renting them from 21st December 2020.
After two weeks of News OnTheWight chasing the council to get to the bottom of all the associated costs of hiring the units, the IWC state the total weekly rental for the four units is £1,465.60.
The total so far for the four units over 27 weeks comes to £41,779.65, which includes delivery (£1,229.08) and removal charges (£999.37).
Were printed banners considered?
News OnTheWight asked the council whether printed banners for the four locations had been considered instead of the digital displays, and if so why they had been rejected.
We’ll update once they get back to us
Funded from Gov Covid grant
A spokesperson from the Isle of Wight council told News OnTheWight,
“The expenditure for this is funded as part of the government Covid grant provided to the council.”
