COUNCILLORS representing Salisbury have slammed Wiltshire Council for "no longer replacing" street names.

According to one councillor, Brian Dalton, the council told him it was not important because "most people these days have sat navs".

Calling for action to be taken at Thursday's Salisbury Area Board he said: "It is ludicrous that Wiltshire Council is not replacing street name plates any more.

"If the name plate falls off or wears away as most of them have done all they do is come out, rip the sign off and put some cheap and nasty thing next to do it - in a medieval conservation area.

"It's not good enough. It is a statutory council function to maintain a good standard of street name plates necessary for postal and emergency services as well as for the convenience and safety of the general public."

Councillor Matthew Dean agreed saying said: "If you don't have a sat nav, signs are essential.

"The one thing that everyone expects for the benefit of their visitors is that they have a street name plate at the end of their street. They've got to find some money to replace street names."

And councillor John Walsh who recently joined another councillor in painting some of the signs themselves called it "disgraceful", saying there had been occasions when signs were not replaced at all by the council.

Councillors agreed they would each go round their wards identifying all the street name plates and bus signs which were either missing, broken or needed repainting.

Councillor Sven Hocking said: "We will compile a list of what needs replacing, repairing and repainting and bring this back to the area board so we can look at how we are going to enforce that legislation and fund it."