I have noticed (in fact quite a while back) that various areas where there were hump signs have been replaced with ‘20mph Zone’ signs around the edges of the areas after the metric signs were finally confiscated. This includes the area around Arsenal FC, where there was a phenomenal load of illegal metric signs. Even a few perfectly legal (imperial) signs were due to be replaced e.g. Gillespie Road (so I was informed).

But that is not all. I have noticed that many perfectly legal hump signs towards the end of Essex Road and towards the end of Pentonville Road (both near the Angel) have been replaced with ‘20mph Zone’ signs. Although I have hardly seen much of those areas, I do feel that an awful lot of wasteful expenditure has been made. It seems to me like the Council just don’t like expressing distances in yards as they came across as a very pro-metric council with all those metric signs that they had. One could compare this with those illegally metric signs between King’s Cross and Warren Street which have been replaced with signs not stating any distances at all: why on earth do they feel so squeamish about expressing distances in yards?! After all, giving distances is very helpful and to their apparent disappointment metres happen not to be authorised.

I wonder what it is with local authorities etc. trying to avoid expressing imperial distances – it seems a very puerile thing to do. Still, these local councils need a close eye on them.

"why on earth do they feel so squeamish about expressing distances in yards?!"

Why are you all so squeamish about expressing things in metres?

Very perceptive observation of yours, Frederick. I could give you many examples of where a Council, caught out in its illegal use of metric signage, has refused to replace the sign with one in yards - sometimes hasn't even replaced it at all.

A good illustration of what you are saying happened in Crawley after ARM's successful action to re-instate distances in miles and yards on its town centre pedestrian signs. Here is a direct Council quote from the Crawley News, 8 August 2002: "Crawley Borough Council spokesman Mark Robinson said: "The signs should not have been in just metric, but we believe that in a compact town centre like Crawley, people want signage to tell them the direction to walk in, rather than giving them distances in yards and metres".

Arun District Council said much the same in relation to metric signs on Littlehampton promenade. There's no doubt that a good number of Council officals have a distinct aversion towards British weights and measures.

The proposed quiet replacement of the yard by the metre was why we called the U.K. Independence Party's initial campaign on this issue: 'Guard the Yard'

Tony Bennett

I lived in SOuth Africa until 1978.

Prior to 1972 (when Souht Africa adopted the metric system), there were subblte differences in teh road signs in the various provinces. At the time, the Orange Free State (which had a reputation of being behind the times) did not put distances on its signposts. The signpost merely said "Bloemfontein", "Winburg", "Harrismith" as teh case may be. The motorists did not know whether he would have to drive for 5 minutes or for 5 hours to get to his destination.

It wuodl appear that the infantile antics of ARM are causing many councils to adopt the same attitude as was adopted by the Orange Free State Provinvial Council in pre-metric days.