NRA removes hundreds of road signs advertising commercial enterprises
The NRA confirmed yesterday that it is taking down large numbers of unapproved road signs.
The removal of illegal “white-on-brown” tourist signs is part of a €60 million resigning programme for the national road network which began last year and set is to conclude in 2012.
The audit of existing signs by the NRA has identified hundreds of “tourist signs” which were erected on local authority signposts without formal approval.
The NRA said certain practices have evolved over time which have resulted in a proliferation and misuse of white-on-brown tourist signs for non-tourist destinations.
Only major tourist and leisure attractions and facilities open throughout the year are allowed to use signposts on the national road network.
They include historic buildings, museums, beaches, conference centres and caravan parks.
However, the NRA does not allow signs to promote attractions or facilities which are predominantly operating on a retail basis, or general civic amenities like parks, libraries and churches.
While the NRA recognises the advertising benefit of white-on-brown tourist signs, it insists they should only be used where they are of “clear benefit” to road users.
For safety reasons, no tourism signage is permitted on certain roads, including the M50 and the Cork Ring Road.
However, the NRA programme has prompted a number of complaints from people whose signs were removed, especially in tourist areas, where some of the signposts with multiple signs were something of a tourist attraction themselves.
The NRA said it was removing all illegal signs from signposts to conform with guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, but said its responsibility was confined to motorways, dual carriageways and national primary and secondary roads.
It said local authorities have responsibility for monitoring the use of “tourist signs” within urban areas and locations with speed limits of 50km/h or less.
NRA spokesman Seán O’Neill said: “The erection of advertising signage is tightly regulated for road safety and environmental reasons.”
He pointed out the guidelines did not permit advertising signs, that were placed in locations where they compete with or mimic official road traffic signs.
“Outside of the 50km/h speed limits in urban areas, signage on national roads is restricted to major tourist and leisure facilities that attract substantial numbers of visitors,” explained Mr O’Neill.
“The NRA’s policy does not cater for signage that is intended to advertise services or facilities.”
The NRA admitted that it has discovered hundreds of unapproved white-on-brown signs while carrying out the current audit.
