The plaque was unveiled in 2001 by TV personality Tony Robinson to mark Garstang's status as the world's first Fairtrade town.
But following concerns that, seven years on, it was looking a bit shabby Fairtrade campaigners approached Garstang Town Council to see if the town's lengthsman would occasionally give it a bit of spit and Brasso.
A leading Fairtrade campaigner, who asked not to be named, told The Courier: "We were told that the lengthsman would not clean it, that it was our responsibility."
The decision has shocked and surprised the Fairtrade activists, whose relations with the town council over Fairtrade and town twinning issues has created tensions in recent months.
Garstang town clerk Edwina Parry said the council's lengthsman committee had considered the Fairtraders' plaque cleaning request, and after contacting Coun Gillian Lamb it was discovered that the constitution of the Fairtrade group itself mentioned that it was responsible for the cleaning of its own signs - including the "Fairtrade" signs on the approaches to Garstang.
Mrs Parry also said the community centre bulding on which the plaque is sited was owned by Wyre Council, not the town council.