HIGHWAYS Agency rules have meant that Ashburton can no longer have its tourist sign on the A38.Though steeped in history and one of the oldest stannary towns in the country, being designated as early as 1285, it no longer qualifies for a brown tourist sign on the road.Around 15 years ago, the town council, chamber of trade and Teignbridge l From page 1Council each forked out £1,400-£1,500 to have a sign produced, erected and maintained on the Ashburton side of Alston Cross.Directing south-bound visitors to the town, it indicated an ancient monument – St Lawrence Chapel – food, car parking, accommodation and the museum.When the Highways Agency resurfaced and made improvements to the road during November and December, it removed the sign and has no intention of replacing it.Town clerk John Germon told Tuesday's monthly meeting that the chamber of trade discussed the matter in February and agreed to send a letter to the council asking for the sign to be reinstated.'I am still waiting for that letter. Put it in writing and the council will look at it,' he said, adding that he understood the sign was removed because it did not comply with the regulations.Cllr Jonathan Richards said it was highly important that the sign was replaced.'There are still brown signs on the A38. I do not know why this one was unlawful. One of my main complaints is that we did not get a letter saying that it was going to be removed. I feel this is not the way the Highways Agency should act.'By the time we had the chance to respond the sign was already gone,' said Cllr Richards.Robin Miller, of the Highways Agency, maintained a letter was sent to the council's clerk on June 4 last year spelling out the details that the sign would be removed during the upgrading of the trunk road in November and December.He said the Department of Transport policy on tourism signs changed in 2004 and because of that Ashburton no longer met the criteria.'That does not mean that the Highways Agency would go out and take down the signs. But when there is a new road, or major road works are carried out, we then remove road signs that no longer comply with current policy.'This one at Ashburton had been there for about 15 years and was probably reaching the end of its life anyway,' he said.Mr Miller added there were still several brown tourist signs along the A38 that would eventually be removed or replaced.