Councillors were not amused when Wellington Town Council agreed to fund street signs for the newly-named Queen Elizabeth Way.

The town council had pushed for some time for Taunton Road from the Chelston roundabout to Priory to be renamed after the late Queen Elizabeth II – who passed away in 2022 – and the proposal has now been given the blessing from Somerset Council.

But councillors were not too keen on spending money on street signs for the planned new Queen Elizabeth Way when they came to discussing the situation at the full council meeting on August 3.

Initially, councillors were being asked to fund 12 road signs at a total cost of just over £5,000.

But Cllr Steve Mercer said: “However desirable this might be, I do think this is a waste of money at the moment. I think we should see this matter held for a year.”

Cllr Justin Cole added: “It’s a nice thing to do, but do we really have to do it? As far as I’m concerned – it’s just the road to Chelston. I don’t think this really matters to the people of Wellington.”

But Cllr John Thorne said: “We have got to do this.”

The Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said: “It’s already been decided the road will be renamed Queen Elizabeth Way and we’re being asked to label that road with signs.”

And Cllr Ross Henley said: “It would be perverse not to label that road with signs. It would be amiss of us not to do it.”

Somerset Council will publish notices about the new road name, which will be posted at either end of the road during the week beginning August 10, and will give people 21 days to object to the change.

The town council’s chief executive Dave Farrow, in a report, said: “The council could reduce the number of signs ordered. There are currently no road signs displaying Taunton Road.

“The minimum suggested provision would be four signs with two at each end of the road. Once the number of signs is agreed, they can be ordered and it is expected that they would be ready for installation in late September or early October.”

Councillors voted against paying for 12 signs and then again turned down a subsequent suggestion of six signs.

But councillors did finally agree on funding four signs for the newly-named Queen Elizabeth Way, which would equate to a bill of £1,741.33.

And Cllr Cole, who was not in favour of the signage, grumbled: “That’s bonkers – absurd.”

A council report said there was no money allocated in the 2026-27 budget for the signs, but councillors were advised that the money could be met by overall underspend at the end of the current financial year or from general reserves.

Councillors were told that the name plates and poles would be £83 each, there would be a one-off delivery charge of £110 for all four, and it would cost £324.83 to install each unit.