The Countryside Clutter Challenge

What is clutter? Road signs, over zealous use of painted lines and colours on roads and lanes and street furniture.

County Branches throughout England have noticed that allowing this sort of clutter to creep into the countryside urbanises the rural environment and is often counter-productive. For example, too many road signs only confuse and distract drivers perhaps resulting in accidents. New signs are often erected but old ones are not removed. Temporary or private signs on lanes and roads are sometimes badly sited, often left in situ even when no longer required or are dislodged by vehicles or weather.

Some village traffic calming schemes result in a kaleidoscope of red,white and yellow in geometric patterns which can conflict with the character and vernacular architecture of the buildings and often spoil the essence of a rural English village. No one doubts that traffic calming and control measures are sometimes necessary but they should be discrete. Countryside Clutter is particularly a problem for areas designated for their rural beauty, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Herefordshire has two ANOB's partly within its borders, the Malvern Hills and the Wye Valley and both are concerned about this issue for their areas.

A CPRE briefing document says "the volume and speed of traffic on rural roads and through villages is a major threat to the tranquillity and character of the countryside. Highway Authorities have a key role to play in managing traffic. In undertaking this task, however, it is important that countryside character is respected. Removing existing sources of clutter and ensuring all new proposals are better designed to complement their surroundings is a priority."

What is the Clutter Challenge?

It is to challenge the Highway Authority to commit to:

• The development of a policy in the Local Transport Plan to protect and enhance countryside character, coupled with a bid for additional funding in the LTP to implement it
• To work with landscape professionals, interested groups and the wider public to develop a traffic management manual and design guide
• To undertake a Clutter Audit across the Authority's area
• To undertake a clutter free pilot scheme to manage traffic in the countryside during the first 2 years of the LTP

Update

Ledbury District Group are continuing to work with the Highways Agency on this issue.It is envisioned that a consistant approach to clutter be taken by the Highways Agency across the county.

To see what is being done on the issue across the country, please click on the link below. This link will take you to the CPRE National website

cpre.org.uk

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CPRE Herefordshire is a registered Charity: No: 213951. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.