Signing will only be considered for short-term events. For seasonal events or events lasting in excess of six months consideration should be given to local direction or tourism signing.
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) provide details of what temporary traffic signs may look like, what they may convey and where and how they may be placed on or near roads in England and Wales.
Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 states that anything placed on the highway without lawful authority is an offence and can be removed.
Permission to erect sign(s) will be issued to a suitable signing organisations or organisations offering a similar service.
If the licensee objects to any of the following conditions of the licence, the licensee may appeal to a Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the date of receipt of the licence.
The licensee is responsible for ensuring that the sign(s) are in line with the conditions, are properly erected and maintained, and do not create a nuisance to the highway user.
Conditions
Signs must not be erected until permission is granted and shall not normally be erected more than 48 hours before the event and removed not more than 24 hours after the event. Earlier erection of the signs might be agreed it it can be shown that it would be be beneficial to other road users. Except that the total period of display shall not exceed 6 months.
All work undertaken in connection with the provision of the sign(s) shall comply with the requirements of design standards (including TSRGD, Traffic Signs Manual and the Health and Safety at Work Regulations).
The signs must be constructed of a suitable material for the face and backing of the sign.
The signs should follow the practice of pointed signs at junctions and rectangular signs in advance.
A sign should not be mounted such that it obscures a driver’s view of any permanent traffic sign. No part of the sign should be less than 450 mm from the edge of carriageway, normally less than 2300 mm above a footway (2100 mm minimum) and less than 2500 mm above a cycleway.
The size of letters should be within the recommendations of Local Transport Note 1/94.
Personnel involved in the erection of the signs must hold appropriate Signing, Lighting and Guarding accreditation in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The licensee must ensure that, as a minimum:
One accredited supervisor is appointed. The supervisor is not required to be on site at all times but must be able to attend site within 2 hours if required
At least one accredited operative is on site at all times while works are underway.
The licensee shall, to a minimum of £5 million, indemnify the County Council against any claim whatsoever against the County Council which may arise because of or in connection with the erection or removal of the sign(s).
The signs and fixings shall be maintained in a safe condition during the period of display and should be checked periodically with an appropriate record kept.
The council will report insecure sign(s) to the company responsible for the erection of the sign. If there is an immediate danger to the travelling public the sign will be made safe and an appropriate charge made to the licensee for time and materials required to make the sign safe.
No other signing, unless authorised, or fly posting should be provided for the event (failure to comply with this may result in the removal of all the signs for the event).
The licensee is responsible for ensuring that the signs are kept free from fly posting and graffiti. Once notified, any occurrences must be removed within 48 hours. Failure to do so may result in the licence being revoked, the Council arranging removal and recharging the cost to the licensee.
During the period when the sign is displayed, the Council retain the right to remove or alter the position of signs at its own expense if they judge that there are legitimate traffic management or road safety grounds to do so. This shall apply even after the locations have been agreed with the sign provider.
The Council may remove signs that are not erected in the agreed position and will recharge the cost to the licensee.
Each sign must have a sticker or similar fixed to the back of the sign to enable easy identification of the signage company.
Extender poles must not be used to install signage.
The signs should be securely and neatly fixed and where possible this should be on existing street furniture. This should be without damage to the street furniture; the repair of any damage being met by the licensee.
Signs are not permitted on the central island of a roundabout.
No sign with an area exceeding 0.6 m2 should be fixed to a lamp column.
If fixing to a lamp column, only one sign is to be fixed and a rubber preventative band between the bracket and sign must be used.
No sign should be attached to private apparatus without the permission of the owner being obtained.