New tourist and directional signs

Businesses and organisations can apply to have tourist or directional signs installed on the public highway. This type of signage is not designed to advertise or promote the establishment but to help customers or visitors take the most appropriate route.
 

Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, but the following general rules apply:

• signs must direct visitors to adequate onsite parking
• there must be evidence of attempts to advertise the destination, including clear directions of the most suitable route to take
• signing will commence from the nearest town/village or nearest main road
• adding to urban sign clutter is generally avoided - for example: where two or more similar facilities are reached from the same route, generic legends should be used
• any new legends should be added onto new consolidated signs where ever possible - new additional singular flag signs should only be installed in exceptional circumstances
• West Berkshire Council can only place signs on the local road network - if you require signs required on trunk roads or motorways (A34 and M4) you must apply to National Highways
• West Berkshire Council has the right to remove any unauthorised signs/advertising from the public highway
• West Berkshire Council has the right to remove any form of advertising from private land or structure if they believe it to be causing a visual or physical hazard or obstruction to any highway user

Once the signs are installed, they become the property of West Berkshire Council. West Berkshire Council will be responsible for all future maintenance of the signs. West Berkshire Council also reserve the right to remove or alter the signs without notice.

Fee

The organisation requesting the signs must pay all costs.

The current charge for designing and managing installation of the signs is £658. This does not include the contractors charge for manufacturing and installing the signs or any necessary traffic management.

Once we receive an application, we will design the signing scheme and provide an estimate for the works. Works will only be completed once the scheme and estimate is agreed by both parties.

No fee is due until the works are complete.

How to apply

To apply to have tourist or directional signs installed on the public highway, complete our  Tourist and Directional Sign Application [165KB] . Send your completed form and a rough plan showing where you would like the signs to be located to trafficandroadsafety@westberks.gov.uk.

If you need to, you can post your form and plan to us:

Traffic and Road Safety,
Environment, Place Directorate, 
West Berkshire Council, 
Market Street, 
Newbury,
RG14 5LD.

Alternatively, you can drop your completed form and plan at our Market Street Office Reception during office hours.