Discontinuous signage in Kent / Sussex

[agc2070]

I recently noticed that when driving north from Hastings all signs are for London and Sevenoaks but upon passing into Kent near Lamberhurst signage is for London and Tunbridge Wells only.

Another example is that on the A21 south of T Wells 'Ashford (A262)' is signed but upon reaching the A21 / A262 junction only Goudhurst and Horsemonden are signed relegating the A262 to a local route. There are further inconsistencies along the course of the A262 but you get the idea.

Kent County Council's own policy states that once a place appears on a sign it should remain on all subsequent signs until the destination is reached. However emails about such inconsistencies seem to be 'filed.'

[Brenley Corner]

If that’s the A21 then the highway authority is Highways England?

[Gareth Thomas]

I recently noticed that when driving north from Hastings all signs are for London and Sevenoaks but upon passing into Kent near Lamberhurst signage is for London and Tunbridge Wells only.

Another example is that on the A21 south of T Wells 'Ashford (A262)' is signed but upon reaching the A21 / A262 junction only Goudhurst and Horsemonden are signed relegating the A262 to a local route. There are further inconsistencies along the course of the A262 but you get the idea.

I had wondered why Sevenoaks is signed from Hastings, when the nearest primary destination on the A21 northbound is Tunbridge Wells.

Another example of discontinuous signing Is for Folkestone on the M20. It appears on all route confirmation signs but not any junction signs - until after Junction 9, when it switches to appearing in junction signs but not on route confirmation signs....

As for local destinations - in Canterbury there are a couple of signs along the A28 saying “Maidstone (A252)”, but when you actually get to the A252 at Chilham the signs just say “Charing A252”.

[jervi]

It's similar to when you head east along th A272, Uckfield and Lewes keep swapping with each other, with primarily Uckfield appearing on newer signs and Lewes on older ones. Rarely do you see both towns on the same sign.

[agc2070]

I recently noticed that when driving north from Hastings all signs are for London and Sevenoaks but upon passing into Kent near Lamberhurst signage is for London and Tunbridge Wells only.

Another example is that on the A21 south of T Wells 'Ashford (A262)' is signed but upon reaching the A21 / A262 junction only Goudhurst and Horsemonden are signed relegating the A262 to a local route. There are further inconsistencies along the course of the A262 but you get the idea.

Another example of discontinuous signing Is for Folkestone on the M20. It appears on all route confirmation signs but not any junction signs - until after Junction 9, when it switches to appearing in junction signs but not on route confirmation signs....

As for local destinations - in Canterbury there are a couple of signs along the A28 saying “Maidstone (A252)”, but when you actually get to the A252 at Chilham the signs just say “Charing A252”.

That's true. I know there are separate channel crossing RC signs as well as general RC signs but even this is weird as in the case of Channel Tunnel and Dover they just duplicate the same destinations. Folkestone should still be confirmed as a primary destination after J9 IMO.

On the M2 the channel crossing RC signs don't have the ferry and tunnel symbols (why?) but does Folkestone still appear on these in spite of the loss of freight port status? I seem to remember one eastbound after crossing the Medway bridge.

Surely the ultimate discontinuity around here is the 'Canterbury 63' sign at Newick on the A272 when the next proper sign for Canterbury is at Ashford. It's bordering on comedic!

[agc2070]

If that’s the A21 then the highway authority is Highways England?

Is this correct? I always thought the A21 was primary but not trunk and therefore under county council management?

[Nathan_A_RF]

Is this correct? I always thought the A21 was primary but not trunk and therefore under county council management?

The A21 from Chipstead Interchange to Junction Road, Baldslow (North of Hastings) is operated by Highways England; KCC and ESCC have nothing to do with it. Only the section of road inside the M25 and the section from Junction Road-A259 in Hastings are not managed by Highways England. Therefore Highways England can't keep destinations consistent along a route it seems. The newest signage along the Tonbridge-Pembury section is somewhat consistent in referencing destinations, although the sign design in areas does not comply to TSRGD either partially or mostly, unfortunately.

[crb11]

There's another example on the A1017 near Haverhill. Along the Haverhill bypass in Suffolk, the forward destination is Halstead, but once you cross the Essex boundary, it changes to Braintree, with Halstead (A1124) appearing only at Sidle Hedingham, a mile ahead of the A1124 junction.

Until about 1990, the bypass would have been the A604 and continued through Halstead to Colchester, so it would have been the correct forward destination: it looks like Suffolk just changed the number whereas Essex thought about things a bit more.

[Ritchie333]

There's another example on the A1017 near Haverhill. Along the Haverhill bypass in Suffolk, the forward destination is Halstead, but once you cross the Essex boundary, it changes to Braintree, with Halstead (A1124) appearing only at Sidle Hedingham, a mile ahead of the A1124 junction.

When it was the A604 (and a primary route), it was Cambridge and Colchester. Indeed, if you look in Colchester you can see "Cambridge A1124" signs dotted around, that have simply had the road number replaced.

[Bryn666]

There's another example on the A1017 near Haverhill. Along the Haverhill bypass in Suffolk, the forward destination is Halstead, but once you cross the Essex boundary, it changes to Braintree, with Halstead (A1124) appearing only at Sidle Hedingham, a mile ahead of the A1124 junction.

When it was the A604 (and a primary route), it was Cambridge and Colchester. Indeed, if you look in Colchester you can see "Cambridge A1124" signs dotted around, that have simply had the road number replaced.

Irrelevant to this really but is there a reason that Colchester and Chelmsford both have Essex Yeomanry Ways linking to the A12? Is it like the two places couldn't be easy enough to mix up without repeating road names as well so relatively close to each other?