A plethora of organisations erect traffic signs. English Heritage estimates that 20 different organisations can put up street furniture “without any control or co-ordination”. Locally, we have:
Highways Agency --- which is in overall charge of the A259(T)
East Sussex County Council Highways Authority --- in overall charge of non-trunk roads
Rother District Council
local, regional and national tourism bodies
Sustrans --- a national cycling quango
private businesses
Streets become cluttered as signs accumulate because there is no single body responsible for the removal of redundant street furniture. The various highway authorities are also institutionally blind to the problem. Neither the Highways Agency nor the County Council has audited, monitored or managed traffic signs in an integrated way. Their This piecemeal approach is at the root of the chaotic proliferation of signs. The problem is exacerbated by:
The regulations governing traffic signage (Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions) were developed entirely for an urban environment and are rigidly standardised, allowing no variation for rural roads. This is despite the recommendation of the ODPM Select Committee in 2003 that “the Department of Transport should reduce all its requirements for signage to the absolute minimum allowing councils…to design streets and install appropriate signage and street furniture, which fits into the locality…”
These regulations are rigidly interpreted by bureaucrats.
These bureaucrats tend to live in towns (the Highway Agency office covering Winchelsea is in Guildford).
The spread of traffic signs has been encouraged by an overreaction to health and safety fears. Signage is seen as protection from litigation by drivers involved in accidents. There appears to be little or no judgement of need based on serious risk assessment.
Poor design.
English Heritage has made a series of proposals to address these problems including changes to regulations, the publication of regional guidance and design workshops. It also encouraged the public to carry out street audits to put pressure on local councils.
