Sunderland City Council chiefs vow to correct misspellings on roadsigns

Road signs in Sunderland city centre have managed to annoy both Wearsiders and Teessiders with their misspellings.
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A permanent sign in Vine Place gives directions to “Teeside” rather than the correctly spelled “Teesside”, although it is a common misspelling of the place name.

The sign, which stands outside Ttonic* bar, had previously been spelled correctly before an upgrade.

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The erroneous replacement has irritated one Sunderland resident, who passed on his opinions to the Echo.

Oops! Wearsiders and 'Teesiders' alike won't be happy with these signs.Oops! Wearsiders and 'Teesiders' alike won't be happy with these signs.
Oops! Wearsiders and 'Teesiders' alike won't be happy with these signs.

The resident asked: “A new directional sign in Vine Place shows 'Teeside', as opposed to the correct Teesside. Where is this River Tee please? The mistake is repeated on temporary yellow road signs in Silksworth Row.”

He added: “No wonder young people struggle with basic English, when officialdom falls short!”

The Silksworth Row sign, across the road from the Museum Vaults pub, is part of the ongoing roadworks in the area.

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Sunderland City Council said: “We will arrange changes to the signs in due course.”

Did you spot the error on this road sign in Vine Place? JPI image.Did you spot the error on this road sign in Vine Place? JPI image.
Did you spot the error on this road sign in Vine Place? JPI image.

Mistakes with road signage do occasionally occur. In September 2020 workers put up a sign for “Arlington Close” in Pallion, even though the correct “Arlington Street” was still legible just inches above it.

In June 2018 new road markings on the surface of Camden Street north of the Queen Alexandra Bridge gave directions to the city “center”, an American spelling or as some might have it – wrong.

The name of the largest town in Teesside itself has supposedly been misspelled since 1853 when Middlesbrough was given its charter. The name stuck after a semi-literate clerk should have written “Middlesborough” instead.

* “Ttonic” is the correct spelling of the pub.

This temporary sign on Silksworth Row hasn't fared any better. Picture by Stu Norton.This temporary sign on Silksworth Row hasn't fared any better. Picture by Stu Norton.
This temporary sign on Silksworth Row hasn't fared any better. Picture by Stu Norton.
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