Council spends thousands on new 'Welcome to Colchester' sign... only to install it the wrong way round

Residents of Colchester have been left scratching their heads after the council unveiled a brand-new ‘Welcome to Colchester’ sign — only to realise it had been installed the wrong way round, greeting those who are already leaving the city instead of those arriving.

The project, which reportedly cost thousands of pounds, was meant to be a proud statement for visitors entering Britain’s oldest recorded town, but has instead become the latest in a long line of council blunders.

The sign, positioned at one of Colchester’s key entry points, was spotted by bemused motorists who initially thought they were seeing things.

Local resident Gary said, “I drove past it twice just to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. You’d think a simple sign wouldn’t be too difficult to get right, but apparently not.”

A council spokesperson attempted to play down the mistake, stating, “Due to a minor miscommunication during installation, the sign has been temporarily placed in the wrong orientation. This will be rectified in due course.”

However, insiders suggest that rectifying the error may not be as simple as it sounds, as the sign is firmly embedded in concrete and will require significant work to reposition.

The blunder has quickly become the talk of the town, with some residents taking a more light-hearted approach. One local shop owner commented, “Maybe it’s just a clever way to encourage people to turn around and spend more time in Colchester. Genius, really.”

Meanwhile, social media has erupted with jokes, with one user tweeting, “Colchester: the only town where you’re welcomed on your way out. Very British.”

Despite the embarrassment, council officials have insisted that the mistake will be fixed swiftly and that additional funds will not be required to correct the error. However, sceptical residents have noted that the council’s track record with public projects suggests otherwise.

For now, motorists leaving Colchester will continue to receive an unexpected farewell message, while those entering will have to assume their welcome is implied. Whether this mix-up becomes a quirky piece of local history or just another embarrassing oversight remains to be seen.