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Issue 53 July/August 2013 £2.75
Route marks would help cut clutter By Christina Eccles
BRITAIN’S attractions and major events could reduce sign clutter around the streets by adopting simple, join-the-dots, colour-coded route marks for visitors, the Road Safety Markings Association has claimed. According to the association, new technology means permanent or temporary markings can be laid for just a few hundred pounds, providing clear information on roads and pavements. Using a resin that can be softened with a mild detergent and then removed with a low-pressure water spray, the association says the markings are ideal for one-off events such as summer festivals and shows, as well as to direct tourists in towns and cities. National director George Lee said: “It is time we addressed the proliferation of road signs and signposts throughout the UK, particularly in our historic towns and cities and picturesque villages. “Just look at an average-sized city like Sheffield, for example, which has an astounding 28,000 street signs and 18,000 items of street furniture. “The UK remains firmly in the world’s top 10 tourist destinations,
while the slow economy continues to make ‘staycations’ and ‘daycations’ attractive for Britons. “On top of this, there are hundreds of music festivals – from the Edinburgh Festival vying with the World Pipe Band Championships over in Glasgow; and with music spanning all tastes from bluegrass and opera to hard rock. “All too often, planners and event organisers opt for the conventional sign on a pole to direct visitors, leading to cluttered, confusing signage and obstacles at every turn. “Road – or pavement or bike lane – markings can be made temporary, such as for the London Marathon, which were laid the night before the run, and removal completed within eight hours of the finish. “The RSMA believes that more tourist attractions and routes could be effectively marked in towns and cities, so that visitors can reach all the top sights following unobtrusive tracks, either laid down to last, or for short-lived events. It really should be as easy as joining the dots.” Do you think this is a good idea? Send your views to our editorial team at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk and we will print the best responses in the next issue.
Rain fails to dampen campers’ spirits
TV presenter Helen Skelton has become one of the first people to experience an innovative new cycling initiative, set in the heart of one of the country’s most iconic landscapes. The first official Sky Ride Local bike ride got underway from Cartmel Racecourse, with Helen among those who enjoyed a 13-mile loop taking in the vibrant historic village of Cartmel and views of the South Lakeland fells. The event was the first in a series of free guided group bike rides led by British Cycling trained Ride Leaders planned for the Lake District this summer.
NEARLY two thirds of British holidaymakers wouldn’t let a wet summer spoil their camping trip, according to a survey by Campsites UK. 65 per cent of those asked said wet weather wouldn’t force them to pack up and go home, with only 35 per cent saying they would go home at the first sign of rain. British holidaymakers who responded to the survey also said they had at least two camping holidays already planned, with 23 per cent stating that the current economic climate has made them more likely to choose a camping holiday in 2013. CEO of Campsites UK Martin Smith said: “Camping continues to be a popular choice of holiday for a large majority of the British public, despite the mixed bag of weather here in the UK. “Sturdy, roomy and easy-topitch tents mean that it's now a much more enjoyable experience and a world away from our childhood memories of soggy tents and sleeping bags. “Modern camping equipment has revolutionised the way people now camp and enables the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors – whatever the weather.”