Traffic Signs for Tourist Destinations on Trunk Roads and Motorways in Wales Guidance for the Tourism Industry

August 2013 Traffic Signs for Tourist Destinations on Trunk Roads and Motorways in Wales

Figure 1: Motorway and Trunk Roads in Wales

Holyhead Llandudno A55 Conwy A55 Bangor Colwyn Bay

A470 A550 Mold Caernarfon A5 Betws-y-coed

A487

A494 Wrexham Blaenau Ffestiniog A5

Llangollen A483 Porthmadog A470 Bala

A494

Dolgellau

Welshpool A487 A458

A489 A470

Machynlleth A483 Seasonal Tourist Routes Newtown

A44 A483 Aberystwyth Other Routes Llangurig A470

A470

National Parks Llandrindod Wells

A487 Builth Wells

Cardigan A483

Fishguard Llandovery A479

A40 A470

A40

A40 Brecon Carmarthen Llandeilo A40 A470 Haverfordwest Abergavenny A465 St.Clears A48 A483 Monmouth A465 A4076 Milford Haven A477 A40 Merthyr A4060 M4 A465 Tydfil Pembroke Dock Llanelli A4042 A449 Neath Cwmbran Chepstow A466 M48 Swansea A470 Pontypridd Port M4 Newport Talbot A48(M) Bridgend A4232 Cardiff

Background Is my destination eligible for tourist The Welsh Ministers and their Government signing? are directly responsible for the motorway If your tourist destination is an attraction, and trunk roads in Wales (figure 1). All you need to determine its eligibility for other roads in Wales are the responsibility tourist signing from the trunk road or of the local authorities. motorway. Following a review of tourist signs on the Facilities may be eligible for signing from trunk road network, the Welsh Government the trunk road as well. carried out a consultation on tourist Please read the following series of signing. As a result, new guidelines have questions, in conjunction with the flowchart been developed with Visit Wales. The overleaf and table showing likely costs at guidelines focus on local needs and offer the back of this document, before deciding greater flexibility in dealing with tourist whether to submit a formal application. signing on the trunk road and motorway network in Wales. • Is the destination recognised by Visit Wales and a member of its quality These guidelines take effect from assurance scheme or an alternative that August 2013. They will not be applied is appropriate to the destination? retrospectively. To be eligible for tourist signing, all What are tourist signs? tourist destinations must be recognised Tourist signs are distinctive brown signs by Visit Wales. Tourist attractions must with white text used to direct drivers to also participate in the Visit Wales Quality a tourist destination in the final stages of Assurance scheme or an equivalent their journey. scheme recognised by Visit Wales. How is a tourist destination defined? • Is the destination accessed directly from the trunk road? Tourist destinations are described as attractions or facilities. Using the map at figure 1 and information in table 1 identify the trunk Tourist attractions are places of interest, road nearest to the destination. Signing open to the public, offering recreation, from the trunk road will only be provided education or historic interest. Examples of if the eligibility criteria are met and the attractions are: local highway authority (LHA) agree • Museums & Visitor Centres to provide signs on the county road. A • Theme parks destination will only be signed if it is less • Golf Courses than 6 or 10 miles from the trunk road. Only attractions will be signed from the • Castles & Historic Buildings motorway. • Wild Animal Parks & Zoos Please note if the destination is accessed • Theatres & Concert Venues from a county road (i.e. a road not shown • National Sports Stadia in figure 1) the initial application for Tourist facilities include hotels, guesthouses, signs should be made to your LHA. bed & breakfast establishments, restaurants, • Does the attraction receive enough holiday parks, touring caravan and camping visitors? parks, picnic sites, youth hostels and Tourist Information Centres. A key factor in determining whether an attraction is eligible for tourist signing is the number of visitors it receives Traffic Signs for Tourist Destinations on Trunk Roads and Motorways in Wales

on an annual basis. Table 1 provides A simple breakdown of the steps that go details of the minimum visitor numbers into placing a sign within the highway required for an attraction to be eligible boundary is as follows: for signing from a specific type of trunk • Sign Design road. Minimum visitor numbers are lower • Risk & Road Safety Assessments again for attractions accessed from a Seasonal Tourist Route. The map shown • Sign Manufacture in figure 1 identifies these routes. • Site Investigation Minimum visitor numbers do not apply • Traffic Management (cones) to facilities. • Foundations • Is adequate parking provided on-site? • Posts • Sign Installation Adequate parking should be provided at attractions for cars and, if necessary, • Safety Fencing (if required) for minibuses and coaches. Alternatively, Costs will also be dependent on the adequate public parking should be nature of the road on which the signs available in the vicinity and with the are to be installed and distance to the permission of the car park operator. destination. Larger signs are required It is important to note that eligibility on higher speed roads such as dual does not confer an automatic carriageways and the motorway. More entitlement to tourist signs. Several signs will be required on the county road other considerations must be taken into network the further the destination is account including existing sign provision, away from the trunk road. availability of space for new signs and Indicative costs have been provided in road safety. The final decision on the table 1 to allow applicants to decide if provision of signing rests with the Welsh tourist signing is right for their business. Government. I want to proceed with an How much will it cost? application, what are the next steps? • The Application If you are considering making an There is no cost for making an application for tourist signs, first follow application for tourist signing to the the flow chart opposite to establish Welsh Government. whether your business is eligible and you understand the likely costs involved if you If an application is successful applicants are successful. will be required to pay for the signs and their installation. If you still wish to proceed after following the flow chart, then you must complete an Partial funding towards the cost of application form. tourism signing from the motorway and trunk road network may be available Application forms are available to from Visit Wales. Funding is limited and download from: each grant application will be assessed http://wales.gov.uk/touristsigns individually on its merits by Visit Wales. Completed application forms should be • The Signing Scheme submitted to the Welsh Government at the Applicants are often surprised by how address provided on the back page. much traffic signs cost, because they are not aware of all the work involved in their manufacture and installation. Traffic Signs for Tourist Destinations on Trunk Roads and Motorways in Wales

START

Is the destination an No Not eligible. attraction or facility?

Yes

Is the destination recognised by Visit Wales and, if an attraction, No Not eligible. does it participate in VAQAS or an equivalent scheme?

Yes

If the destination is an attraction, does it receive enough visitors (Ref. Table 1) No Not eligible. and have adequate parking on site or nearby? Yes

Is the destination accessed No Has the LHA No Signs will not be directly from a road approved signs provided on indicated in Figure 1? on county road? the trunk road.

YesYes

Is the destination less than Signs will not be 6 or 10 miles from a road No provided on indicated in Figure 1? the trunk road.

Yes No Source Source own funding Does the applicant appropriate funding. from private or have sufficient funding? other source. No Yes Yes Yes Visit Wales agrees to No Signs cannot Submit application with provide partial grant be provided supporting information towards scheme. without funding. for consideration.

Welsh Government Signs will not be considers application and Not Approved provided on wider implications. the trunk road.

Approved

Commission sign design and installation. Traffic Signs for Tourist Destinations on Trunk Roads and Motorways in Wales

Table 1 Road Type Minimum Minimum Distance of Indicative cost visitor visitor destination of signing to numbers for numbers for from the destination attractions attractions motorway when accessed on Seasonal or trunk directly from Tourist Routes road (miles) the trunk road £20,000 to Motorway 90,000 n/a 10 £100,000+ Grade Separated Dual Carriageways £5,000 to 60,000 45,000 10 with speed limit £20,000 more than 50mph Other Dual £5,000 to 50,000 38,000 6 Carriageways £20,000 £1,500 to Single Carriageways 20,000 15,000 6 £10,000

Where can I get further information? Contact details for the Welsh Government For information on grant funding and for queries on the guidelines and the Visit Wales Quality Assurance scheme submission of completed application forms contact Visit Wales: are as follows: Welsh Government Welsh Government Visit Wales Transport QED Centre Cathays Park Main Avenue Cardiff Trefforest Industrial Estate CF10 3NQ Trefforest Web: www.wales.gov.uk/transport Pontypridd Rhondda Cynon Taff Telephone CF37 5YR English: 03000 6 03300 or 0845 010 3300 Web: www.wales.gov.uk/tourism Welsh: 03000 6 04400 or 0845 010 4400 Telephone: 0845 010 8020 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]