Primary destinations are locations that appear on route confirmation signs in the United Kingdom. Most are important settlements or conurbations, but some are bridges and tunnels, or even villages that are important junctions, e.g. Scotch Corner or Crianlarich.
In 1994, previous lists for destinations in Great Britain were superseded when English, Scottish and Welsh destinations were prescribed in Appendix C of Local Transport Note 1/94: The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs (LTN 1/94), published by the then Department of Transport.[1] A revised list for England was published in 2009[2] and updated in 2010.[3]
The 1994 list had 333 entries for England. When the 2010 list was compiled, 15 entries were removed[note 1] and 16 added,[note 2] giving a total of 334 entries. In December 2011, following a consultation, the Department for Transport announced that it would add Birmingham Airport, East Midlands Airport, Luton Airport, Thamesport (for Medway Ports East) and Port of Tilbury; and, in response to local feedback, that it would also add Colne and Minehead and ratify the removal of Stone.[4]
The list for Northern Ireland destinations has always been maintained separately from those for Great Britain. Since devolution under the Scotland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 1998, transport matters and hence responsibility for maintaining lists of primary destinations have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd and their respective governments.
Some maps show primary destinations in a different colour or font size to other places.[5] However, these sometimes include places which are not on the official lists.
Signage
Primary destinations in Greater London, other than Heathrow Airport and London, will generally only be signed within the M25 motorway.
List of primary destinations
Great Britain
The entries for England in this list were compiled from the 2010 list and 2011 amendments,[3][4] while those for Scotland and Wales were compiled from the 1994 list.[1][note 3]
Northern Ireland
Primary destinations in Northern Ireland are published separately from those in Great Britain. The current list is:[5]
Notes
- ↑ Entries that were removed: Alton, Avonmouth, Bawtry, Brighouse, Esher, Hatfield, March, Midhurst, Redhill, Stretford, Stroud, Swanley, Wells, Wimbourne and Workington
- ↑ Entries that were added: Altrincham, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Garston, Heysham, Huyton, Keighley, Leigh, Manchester Airport, Newquay, Shepton Mallet, Speke, Trafford Park, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, Wellingborough
- ↑ The choice of ceremonial rather than administrative county was prompted by the lack of consistency in the English local government system as some areas are covered by county and district councils, while others have a unitary authority.
- ↑ Every destination in Wales along with some English destinations signed within the country is translated into Welsh where applicable on road signs.
- ↑ Bilingual road signs with Scottish Gaelic translations of destinations have been phased in across the Scottish Highlands and the A9 trunk road between Inverness and Perth.
- 1 2 3 The Teesside conurbation area straddles the North Yorkshire/County Durham border. Outside this area, Teesside is used, otherwise Middlesbrough (which is entirely within North Yorkshire) and Stockton (whose town centre is in County Durham) are used.
References
- 1 2 Department of Transport (July 1994). "Local Transport Note 1/94: The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs" (PDF). London: HMSO. pp. 24–26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ↑ Department for Transport (18 December 2009). "Primary route destinations in England by region" (PDF). London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- 1 2 Department for Transport (7 July 2010). "Primary route destinations in England by region" (PDF). London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- 1 2 Department for Transport (6 December 2011). "Road Network Policy Consultation – Response" (PDF). London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- 1 2 "ViaMichelin maps". Michelin. Retrieved 17 February 2012. ("ViaMichelin key". Michelin. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2012.}