6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

6.1 New tourist signs, in conjunction with other traffic signs, can have a cumulative detrimental impact on the environment. This is particularly the case in conservation and rural areas where signing can have more of a visual impact on the character of the area. Also, the effects of proposed new signs on their surroundings need to be considered whatever the location and it is important that the environmental impact of new signs is minimised as far as is consistent with their intended purpose.

6.2 In environmentally sensitive areas such as National Parks, National Scenic Areas, Geoparks, Areas of Great Landscape Value and conservation areas, the impact of new signing needs special consideration. Therefore, before approving tourist signs in such areas, the HTA will ensure that where appropriate the National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland and/or the local planning authority have been consulted.

6.3 Where either a consultee or the trunk road authority considers that a proposed sign is likely to be visually or environmentally intrusive, the trunk road authority reserves the right to refuse the application or require the applicant to amend the layout and wording of the sign in order to reduce its visual and environmental impact. However, the x-height of the sign legends should not be reduced below the minimum given in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/94 [7].

6.4 Further guidance is contained in Road Furniture in the Countryside [9], published by Transport Scotland and available on the website www.transportscotland.gov.uk.