I don't know whether I've mentioned this before, but there is (or certainly was) a metric sign at the top end of South Ordnance Road just south of the new bridge leading from Mollison Avenue over the River Lea Navigation into the Enfield Island Village development. The arrow on this map indicates the location:
It is a black finger-post sign referring to distances along the riverside path, including to Waltham Abbey if memory serves, and all are in metres or kilometres. Could someone advise whether these are legal?
I took up the totally metric signs issue with the Lea Valley Park Authority last year with the help of the BWMA and UKIP. The response to UKIP's letter to them was that as the Park is not the Queen's Highway, as it were, the signs are legal. UKIP, and myself, accepted their Solicitor's reading of the situation.
I presume the sign you are referring to is re the River Lea and not an ordinary road sign. If it's the latter then I presume it would be illegal.
Regards.
BWMA
Fingerpost signs
July 15 2001, 7:56 PM
There is a possibility that fingerpost signs are lawful - this is because they are not the type of sign that falls under the Traffic Regulations.
They (probably) fall under regulations relating to information and advertising which do not stipulate requirements for units of measurement.
Nevertheless, it would seem bizarre that a local authority should choose to use units that differ from those required for signs which are so regulated.
With regards tp the Lee Valley signs, these may fall under the same category - it should be noted, however, that BWMA has recently established that Lee Valley's explanation, that they are on private roads, is not valid. The definition of "public road" means roads used by the public, NOT roads that are publically maintained. Perhaps Stuart wants to re-approach Lee Valley on this point.