More metric signs are to bite the dust - but this time by peaceful means - as the Scottish Executive finally deals with illegal metric signs in Dumfries-shire. This is after correspondence with the company which erected them (AMEC Holdings) had earlier proved fruitless. The signs display distances along a cycleway either side of the A76 around Auldgirth.

Today the Council of ARM has received a letter from Mr B Guthrie, Area Manager of the Road Network Management and Maintenance Divisison of the Scottish Executive's Development Department, dated 18 June. The letter has the headnote: "A76 Trunk Road - Auldgirth: Illegal Metric Cycleway Signs".

As it states some important legal principles, we quote from his letter extensively:

"Thank you for your letter of 6 May...the use of metric distances on directional signs is not permitted by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 (TSRGD), so any sign which incorporates metric distances is not a traffic sign within the meaning of Section 64 and is not covered by the power to place traffic signs conferred by Section 65 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA).

The Department's view is that signs which are intended to be used for the purposes described in section 64 of the RTRA should comply with the statutory requirements for traffic signs. The TSRGD is legislation which is reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament and the Department of Environment and Transport have been contacted for their views. They have advised that there are no plans at present to include metric distances on direction signs.

With respect to the signs you refer to, it appears that these were erected on behalf of the Scottish Executive by the local Council. There has obviously been some confusion over the provision of metric signs and in this respect I will shortly be arranging for the signs to be altered.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention".

Council of ARM

"They have advised that there are no plans at present to include metric distances on direction signs"

I like that quote!

QUOTE: "...so any sign which incorporates metric distances is not a traffic sign within the meaning of Section 64 and is not covered by the power to place traffic signs conferred by Section 65 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA)".

This is an important passage, since it has a direct bearing on s(131) of the 1980 Highways Act that refers to "signs not lawfully placed".

Thank you for drawing it to our attention.