Who took floral tributes and erected fake notice?

A grieving mother is appealing for information after floral tributes to her late son were removed from the roadside where he died.

And a county councillor wants to know who has erected a sign saying that floral tributes can not be left on the spot.

Lee Ferguson was just 26 when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle close to Welshpool Golf Club entrance on his way back from Barmouth, on August 3, 2019.

Since then his family have travelled from their homes in the West Midlands to lay memorial flowers to mark his birthday, Christmas and the anniversary of the crash. But on this occasion the flowers were taken away within a couple of days.

Last year the family were unable to travel because of Covid restrictions but after an appeal Welshpool residents rallied around and paid their respects with floral tributes.

Lee’s mother Emma Butler said: “My family and I think it is absolutely disgusting that someone could do this. It’s hard enough to drive to Wales to pay our respects where Lee lost his life but to know that the next day the tributes were removed is heart-breaking.”

Mrs Butler wants to know who has removed the tributes and why.

Graham Breeze, who is the Llanerchyddol Ward Councillor on Powys County Council, said he was furious that someone had removed the flowers.

“It is bad enough that someone has done this but they have also taken the trouble to erect a forged sign in the name of Powys County Council. I have removed the sign and would like whoever erected it to contact me with their reasons.

“I am furious that this has happened in my ward,” he added. “Lee sadly left behind a fiancé, young son and a loving family. Surely they have suffered enough without someone acting in this way.”

The councillor pointed out that the road is the responsibility of the Trunk Road Agency not Powys County Council, which discredits the notice which has been placed by someone. 

“I have run checks with both the Trunk Road Agency and Powys County Council and it is evident that neither organisation has, or would, remove floral tributes left on a grass verge in this way.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mrs Butler on emma.butler77@yahoo.co.uk or Cllr Breeze on cllr.graham.breeze@powys.gov.uk

 Pictures:

 Lee Ferguson, who died on the Welshpool-Llanfair road

The floral tributes which have been taken

The fake Powys Council notice