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Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith discusses his Road Signs (Tourist Destinations and Facilities) Bill, which is considered in the Commons.
Tourist business and facilities in rural areas need clear direction signs so that motorists can find them and passing travellers can be aware that they are available.
Why then does the Highways Agency take such a restrictive approach to the familiar 'brown signs' which businesses pay for?
In one recent case in my constituency they took down a sign from the A1 to Berwick Golf Club, without consultation, and refused to put it back up because it was no longer their policy to approve it.
Small businesses cannot afford brown signs, but well-designed and well-positioned smaller roadside signs for pubs, cafes, tea rooms and farm shops have been taken down by many local councils following pressure from central government to do so.
This makes no sense, particularly in a recession, when tourist businesses in the countryside provide much-needed help to the economy.
Nobody wants to see our roadsides littered with American-style billboards advertising national products, and there need to be controls, but we need to allow local facilities to make their presence known to travellers.
My Bill puts a duty on public authorities to have regard to the needs of local tourist businesses by allowing for the provision of appropriate roadside signs.
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