phildawson
(Sorry, I will have to escalate this.)
1
I have a dilemma with a new 20mph sign installation and wondered if we have any legal experts to give their view.
The town has just had 20mph signs installed throughout but it’s clear very little consideration has been applied in positioning and spacing apart.
The main road is 20mph and all side streets joining it are also now 20mph.
What they have done is add additional signage in the side streets. That should be fine in the entrance but makes little sense inside cul-de-sacs or short roads where they saw the previous sign a few seconds ago.
Basically I’ve had a 20mph sign installed immediately outside my property.
Firstly it’s reckless in that it should have been 10mph. It’s a steep hill, blind bend, no pavements plus a crossing to a park.
People have used their brain and have done 10mph for decades. I would say 20mph will be seen as the expected rather than max and also encourage those anti-20 to put their foot down.
There are five appropriately positioned lampposts that could be used that has zero impact on any properties. These are ideal as they are at the point you would want to reduce to 10mph.
I raised a complaint and it was very quickly dismissed and I’ve responded to escalate it. Still awaiting a second impartial response.
As the sign goes into my property boundary I’m pretty sure it’s not legal, I can’t see anything wayleave related etc.
Send them a monthly bill if they refuse to relocate it?
road signs are quite strictly regulated - for a start, the law doesn’t allow for 10mph limits, and in certain circumstances 20mph areas need repeater signs at certain intervals.
This blog post has a lot of the nerdy detail and might help you work out whether the signs have been installed as per the regulations:
The placing of the sign will be legal if mounted onto a structure that has a base in the public road/footpath/pavement. However, the boundary is a sticking point. Going off your right to cut overhanging bushes and branches which grow into your boundary, you could cut through it with an angle grinder at the boundary point, so that none of it overhangs your boundary - but don’t touch any of it which is within the public/shared boundary. And keep the removed bit in case you have to duct tape it back on if the court case (which would be HIGHLY unlikely) doesn’t go your way.
Clarification: Don’t try this at home kids. Instead, have a word with the local authority about your dissatisfaction of the sign placement.
I honestly have no idea why I’m so invested in this, but…
how big is the sign? If it’s at the start of 20mph limit area, it’s meant to be 450mm or 600mm in diameter, otherwise if it’s a repeater it should be 300mm.
someone with a brain looks at it and goes we just need to move it and it doesn’t turn into a battle.