Tourist signs to be debated in Parliament thanks to Beith

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Jun 2009

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith is introducing a Bill in the House of Commons next Tuesday to put the Highways Agency and local authorities under a duty to promote tourism by providing or allowing suitable signs for tourist destinations to be put up on main roads.

Alan Beith said

"All sorts of businesses and organisations, ranging from pubs serving food to visitor attractions and the Golf Club at Goswick, have been hit by refusals to allow signs which help tourists who are looking for these destinations. The Highways Agency has been taking down signs and refusing to allow them to be put back up, and local councils were pressurised by the Government to have a blitz against signs on main roads for tourist facilities.

"We need a much more positive approach to help the tourist industry, which is hoping to attract new visitors this year who will opt to stay in the UK rather than take expensive foreign holidays."

There have been several stories in the local media about businesses wanting to put signs up, including Doxford Hall Hotel.

Although it is unlikely that the Bill will become law, the process is a means of putting pressure on the authorities and has the support of members from all parties, including neighbouring Labour MP Denis Murphy.