The Cullompton Town Council has officially approved a new design for the town’s entry signage, replacing the aging “Wool Sacks” posts that have long marked the entrances to the town. The project, led by local graphic designer Andrew Ley, has been in development for several months, with extensive input from a working group that included contributions from students at Cullompton Community College.

At the full council meeting in September, the design sparked a lively debate among councillors, with mixed opinions regarding its aesthetic and representation of the town. Councillor Mike Thompson was particularly critical, voicing dissatisfaction with the chosen design. “I'm not impressed by the design. It doesn't give any indication as to what’s the town,” he said, noting that the existing signage prominently features the town’s name and the church in the centre of town.

In defence of the process, Councillor Tony Spring highlighted that the design had been thoroughly reviewed by the working group, open to all council members. “This has been passed over with the working group which everybody on the council had a chance to be part of,” Cllr Spring explained, addressing Thompson’s absence from the meetings. “You had a chance to come to the working party and you weren't there so you're almost in a position where you have to accept it,” he added.

Cllr Thompson responded by calling for a more formal process with structured committee meetings, agendas, and minutes. However, Cllr Spring clarified that the council had moved away from traditional committee meetings, opting for accessible Zoom sessions. “We’re not doing anything underhanded,” Cllr Spring reassured. “If you don’t turn up at that meeting then you have to accept what’s brought forward to council.”

Councillor Chris Snow also weighed in, expressing concerns about the complexity of the design. “From what I see from the logos, it's too busy,” he said, referencing simpler designs in nearby towns like Crediton and Wellington. He suggested the signage should clearly feature the town’s name or the town council.

Despite the differing opinions, Councillor Emma Buczkowski supported the third design option, which incorporates an expanded depiction of St Andrew’s Church—a significant town landmark—and reflects feedback from previous consultations. “For me, and I did attend all three working groups after looking at many different designs, my preference is version three,” she said. Cllr Buczkowski’s proposal to proceed with this version was subsequently approved by the council.

Town Clerk Dan Ledger concluded the meeting by confirming the next steps, stating, “We will now go ahead and start ordering the signage from that. The van livery will be coming back to council because that's a separate design not shown here today unless you're happy to delegate to the staff to complete it.”

The new signage is expected to be installed in the coming months, marking a fresh chapter in welcoming visitors to Cullompton.