Introduction
Bath and North East Somerset Council is currently developing its
Tourist Signing policy.
Guidance for the provision of direction signs to tourist
attractions and facilities is shown below and an application form
will be available shortly.
It should be noted that all tourist attraction signing permitted
under the scope of this guidance will be at the expense of the
applicant. The Local Authorities (transport charges) Regulations
1998 refers.
If an application is approved, the applicant will be required to
arrange, through an approved contractor, for the manufacture of
signs conforming to an approved design and erected at a location(s)
agreed by the Traffic and Safety Team. Future maintenance of the
signs will also be the responsibility of the applicant.
The applicant may also be required to pay for the design and any
administrative costs associated with the sign(s). The final Policy
Document will clarify this.
General Principles and Guidance
A tourist attraction is defined as a permanent attraction
or facility which: ‘attracts or is used by visitors to an
area and is open to the public without prior booking during its
normal opening hours’.
Tourist attractions can include visitor centres, theme
parks, historic buildings, museums, zoos, parks and gardens,
natural attractions, areas of special interest, country tours,
tourist routes, sports centres, concert venues, theatres and
cinemas. In all instances, the attraction in question must be
recognised by the Authority as a place of significant historical,
architectural, educational, leisure or recreational interest.
Tourist facilities can include hotels, guesthouses, bed
& breakfast establishments, public houses, restaurants, holiday
parks, touring and camping parks, picnic sites and Tourist
Information Centres.
Retail parks, shopping centres and garden centres will not
generally be signed as tourist attractions, unless they have
facilities or features which are of particular interest, for
example, craft centres, mill shops or speciality shops.
All tourist destinations are required to:
- Have adequate parking on site or close by (any signs must
direct road users to the parking facilities rather than the
destination itself);
- Have adequate toilets on site (including for people with
disabilities);
- Be generally of good quality, well maintained and suitable for
people with disabilities.
As a general principle, owners or operators of tourist
destinations applying for tourist signs are expected to advertise
their establishments opening times, the location, accessibility by
road and, where appropriate, public transport, through the tourist
industry. This might include tourist brochures and other literature
available through Tourist Information Centres, guide books,
leaflets or on a web site. Applicants should provide evidence of
this.
Other, more specific criteria to be fulfilled by tourist
destinations will be available when the Tourist Signing Policy is
finalised.
It should be noted that eligibility does not confer
automatic entitlement to tourist signs. Decisions on
signing individual establishments will depend on local
circumstances, in particular the number of similar establishments
in the area.
In the case of public houses, hotels and other accommodation,
the name of the facility will not normally appear on the signs,
particularly where there is more than one such facility in the same
vicinity. Where a facility is relatively isolated, it may be
appropriate to include the name of the establishment.
Membership of a recognised scheme for maintaining quality
standards is a relevant factor in the consideration of an
application. It is recommended that any tourist attraction (other
than sports centres, concert venues, theatres and cinemas) should
be accredited by the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance
Service (VAQAS) scheme and be signed up to the
Visitors Charter.
It is also recommended that, where possible, tourist facilities
should be recognised by an appropriate body concerned with
maintaining quality standards. For instance hotels, guesthouses and
bed & breakfast establishments should normally be recognised by
the Harmonised Quality Assurance Scheme (ETC, AA,
RAC) and any establishment serving food must comply with the
Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations
1995 and Food Safety Act 1990. Any
holiday, touring or camping park should have a reasonable number of
pitches available for casual and overnight use and be accredited by
the British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme.
