Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the criteria necessary for the (1) erection, and (2) display, of brown road signs to denote locations of cultural and historical significance; and whether local councils are required to provide assistance during that process.

The criteria necessary for a location of cultural and historical significance to potentially warrant a brown traffic sign are provided in Schedule 1 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016 (TSRGD). TSRGD defines the term ‘tourist destination’ with the following meaning:

(a) a Tourist Information Centre or Point;

(b) a permanently established attraction or facility (other than a leisure facility) which—

(i) attracts or is used by visitors to an area;

(ii) is open to the public without prior booking during its normal opening hours; and

(iii) is recognised as a tourist attraction or facility by the appropriate national promoter of tourism;

(c) a village, town or city that is of particular interest to tourists;

(d) a route that is of particular interest to tourists

VisitBritian is the national promoter for England and they have criteria for minimum number of visitors, car parking, toilets etc.

Decisions on whether to erect and display brown signs for any qualifying attraction is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. However, local councils are not required to provide assistance to attractions during the process of meeting the criteria.