A notice of motion moved at Wednesday’s monthly meeting to remove the signs was supported by the majority of councillors.

The signs were erected late last year by council at the request of NSW Police who were concerned about the safety threat posed by people using the road to protest AGL’s coal seam gas operations.

Council erected the signs without consulting its Traffic Management Committee.

Cr Frank Hooke said he believed the erection of the signs was politically motivated.

“They were not intended for the purpose they were installed,” Cr Hooke said.

“The signs are 2km apart so I don’t think they’re really enforceable. They are there for a political purpose, not a legal purpose.”

Cr Jim Henderson, who did not support the motion, said he had spoken to Gloucester Police who had informed him the signs were a necessary public safety measure.

“I think it’s reasonable to believe that if action gets under way again there will be the same issue,” he said.

“That’s not to mention the cost of getting them down and putting them back up.”

Cr Aled Hoggett, who moved the notice of motion, said the advice he had received was that police believed there was no immediate need for the signs and the risk to the public had been reduced.

“There remains some uncertainty over the appropriateness and current implementation of the signs,” he said.