November 11th 2024.
As drivers made their way down the busy London road, they were met with a peculiar sight - a road sign that provided directions to two destinations in California. It had been that way for 15 years, until recently when the sign was finally corrected by the Southwark Council.
The sign, located in Southwark, was a source of confusion for many. It directed drivers to the lanes they should take if they were heading to Malibu or Laurel Canyon. However, upon closer inspection, it became apparent that these places did not exist in London. While it was not uncommon for the US and UK to share place names, these two were not among them.
Despite being a strange anomaly, the sign went unnoticed by many locals. Some even recalled it being altered around 2010. On the other side of the road, a similar sign pointed drivers to the lanes for actual London destinations - Rotherhithe and Peckham. These may not have been as glamorous as Malibu and Laurel Canyon, but they were the true locations for the city's less famous yet beloved areas.
Fortunately, the Southwark Council has now fixed the incorrect sign, ensuring that both sides of the road display matching information. Joyce Kirton, a resident who frequently passed by the sign, admitted she had never noticed the error before. It wasn't until a Google street view image from 2012 showed the US destinations that she realized the mistake. Another image from 2017 still displayed the incorrect names, further confirming the need for correction.
When questioned about the sign, locals had varying reactions. Some, like 60-year-old Joyce, had never noticed it before. Others, like Christy from Ireland, had lived opposite the sign for three years and had grown used to seeing the US names. He had even wondered if it was an inside joke. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Lorena, who hailed from Sardinia, had assumed that Malibu and Laurel Canyon were indeed in London, possibly twinned with other areas. Their housemate, a recent addition to the area, immediately noticed the sign and reminisced about his time in LA.
The corrected sign now displays the true destinations of Rotherhithe and Peckham. According to Cllr James McAsh, this mix-up is understandable, as both places are popular and have a mix of history and nature. It's no wonder the mistake went unnoticed for so long. However, for those unfamiliar with the area, it may have caused some confusion. After all, Malibu and Laurel Canyon are both located in the Santa Monica Mountains of LA, with the latter being a part of the famous Hollywood Hills. It's no surprise that it was once home to iconic musicians such as Jim Morrison, Joni Mitchell, and Frank Zappa. And currently, celebrities such as Courtney Cox, Julia Roberts, Johan Hill, and Paris Hilton all have homes in Malibu, known for its stunning beaches.
So, while following the sign may not have taken you to the glamorous destinations of Malibu or Laurel Canyon, it certainly provided some entertainment for those passing by. And now, with the correct destinations displayed, drivers can confidently make their way to Rotherhithe and Peckham without any confusion.
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