§ Mr. Fearnasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many visitors a tourist resort has to attract per year before it can apply to have further words added to local road and motorway signs to attract more people.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIndividual tourist attractions which are open for casual visits by the general public may be signed from motorways using the new white on brown330W tourist signs if they attract over 150,000 visitors per year, are situated within 20 miles of the nearest motorway junction, have adequate car parking and are open for more than 50 days per year.
Places providing accommodation and facilities fpr pre-booked customers are not eligible for white on brown tourist signs; if they also cater for casual visitors then their eligibility for signing will be considered on the basis of the number of casual visitors. Where a town, or a rural area, has a number of smaller attractions which in total have 150,000 visitors a year then a white on brown sign may be erected on the motorway directing drivers to an information hoard just off the motorway where they can stop and obtaim details of the various attractions in the area. Major holiday resort towns which are of sufficient traffic importance are already signed from motorways as primary destinations on the standard white on blue signs. The criteria for signing tourist attractions and resorts on local roads are a matter for the local highway authority.
§ Mr. Fearnasked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he employs for the designation of a tourist attraction or resort on motorway signs.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe criteria and arrangements for the white on brown tourist signing are set out in circular Roads 3/86. To be eligible for tourist attraction signing from a motorway, the attraction must have over 150,000 visitors a year, be within 20 miles of a motorway, have adequate parking and be open for at least 50 days in the period 1 April to 31 October each year. Caravan parks, camp sites, youth hostels and hotels are not eligible for motorway signing.
Places providing accommodation and facilities for pre-booked customers are not eligible for white on brown tourist signs; if they also cater for casual visitors then their eligibilty for signing will he considered on the basis of the number of casual visitors. Resort towns, historic towns, or rural areas, which have a number of smaller attractions which in total meet the criteria for motorway signing, may be signed with a white on brown sign on the motorway directing drivers to an information board just off the motorway where they can obtain details of the individual attractions in the area. The individual attractions may be signed as approporiate on the local roads.