Cluster of metric signs around Birmingham Airport.

Odd looking things, they were. Like "45m" and the like.

If anybody is minded to "amend" these signs, reflect on the following points first:

1) Airports are regarded as prime points for terrorist activity.

2) There were two sets of terrorist incidents in London a few months ago.

3) Security chiefs tend to take their job seriously, particularly if they have been briefed about a hightened security situation.

4) Hightened security situations are not always made public.

5) "Amending" a sign might be seen at first sight by a security officer as a diversion to enable terrorists to carry out their mission. In such cases, those "amending" will have a lot of explaining to do if they are apprehended. In such cases security chiefs are often known to suffer from what is known as a "loss of humour syndrome". It is not uncommon for them in such situations to throw books around the place, particularly at those who have been apprehended.

My advice to anybody who is thinking about amending these signs is "Don't!"

My advice to ARM is DO!

Daniel,

Why?

If ARM wants publicity, changing signs at the airport might be a good thing to do. After the thousands of signs they have amended, most British people haven't heard of them. Trying it at an airport might get more press coverage.

re : "Cluster of metric signs around Birmingham Airport. Odd looking things, they were. Like "45m" and the like".


REPLY: This report has now been investigated by the Council of Active Resistance to Metrication.

Today our Secretary Tony Bennett spoke to Mr Steve Hill, Head of Planning, Environment and Transportation at Birmingham International Airport, which he emphasised, by the way, was 'not a B.A.A. Airport'.

He was quite clear in his own mind that there were no illegal metric highway signs within the area covered by and owned by the airport.

Clearly familiar with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, he said: "These are private roads but we know that they're covered by all the highways legislation". For good measure, he added: "Actually, as I look out of my window, I can see one of our signs saying '30 yards'".

Therefore ARM's provisional conclusion is that the signs reported at the head of this thread must be outside the confines of Birmingham Airport.

Further investigations will be undertaken and reported here.

I can confirm that apart from a few "bi-lingual" height restriction signs all the distance signs at the short term "drop-off" areas of Birmingham Airport are in metres (m).

That is, directly in front of departures and arrivals.