Introduction
This document sets out our guidelines and procedures for signing tourist attractions and facilities.
The Department for Transport guidance dictates the establishments that can be considered for brown tourist signing. It also:
- requires us to have our own policy
- publish guidance for prospective applicants
The policy aims to:
- control the total number of signs and street furniture, where appropriate
- improve the visual environment
The policy places great emphasis on these criteria when dealing with tourist signing:
- the quality of attractions and facilities
- environmental awareness when dealing with the investigation and provision of signs
- Lincolnshire’s own special needs and requirements regarding maintaining and promoting tourism in the county
- the safe and efficient movement of traffic on the highway network
We review and update the guidance as circumstances dictate.
Tourist attraction or facility
Tourist attractions or facilities are often called a ‘tourist destination’. These are a permanent establishment, destination or facility that:
- attracts or is used by visitors to an area
- is open to the public without prior booking during normal opening hours
An attraction provides an educational or recreational use such as:
- museums
- zoos
- historical sites
- theatres
- cinemas
- theme parks
- sport and leisure facilities
A facility provides an amenity, such as:
- public houses
- hotels
- guest houses
- restaurants
- camping or caravan sites
Retail outlets are no longer eligible for brown tourism signing. These include:
- garden centres (unless it has a tea room which can be signed)
- retail parks
- shopping centres
For garden centres with tea rooms, see additional criteria for facilities.
We may consider standard directional signing (black legend, white background) for retail outlets. These signs are only available if there are genuine traffic management or safety reasons. The tourism vetting procedure is used as the basis for eligibility and the applicant must pay the costs.