Policy instruments (3) - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 222

on the speed, movement or parking of vehicles. The making of orders has to follow
set procedures which involve consultation, advertisement and the consideration of
objections. A public inquiry may, and in certain cases (such as following an objection by
a local bus operator) must, be held before a decision is made on whether to implement
the order, possibly with modifications. If a TRO has the effect of preventing vehicular
access to premises for more than 8 hours in any 24 hours and is the subject of an
unwithdrawn objection then the approval of the Secretary of State is required.
In situations where the outcome of a proposed scheme is uncertain an authority
may introduce an Experimental Order for a period of up to 18 months. This requires
consultation to be followed but not the formal advertisement and objection procedures.
If however the authority subsequently proposes to make the scheme permanent then
these procedures must be followed.
The purposes for which a TRO may be made are very wide-ranging and reflect
the interests of different classes of road user, the occupiers of frontage properties, the
protection of infrastructure, the character of the area and of air quality (Box 14.1).
Of itself the legislation does not determine whether or how streets in a particular area
should be managed. The way in which traffic management measures have been applied
to a given area has often changed over time, particularly in town and village centres,
reflecting different views on relative priorities. In fact many earlier schemes have been
modified quite radically as part of recent moves to improve the urban environment
and 'reclaim the streets' (see 14.7).
Traffic regulation orders are commonly used to control the presence of all or certain
types of traffic within or along individual streets, the turning movements at junctions
and the direction of flow along one-way streets, often as part of more comprehensive
schemes. (The control of parking and traffic speeds which may be further components
are discussed in subsequent sections.)
Orders may be made to prohibit all traffic from using a street (or all motorised traffic
- thus allowing cyclists and horse-drawn traffic continued access) either permanently
or during specified periods. Permanent pedestrianisation may also be achieved by
separate powers under the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act. The prohibition
can be confined to certain classes of vehicle specified by weight, width or length or by
type. Conversely explicit exemptions may be made for certain types of vehicle, notably
Box 14.1 Purposes for which a Traffic Regulation Order may be introduced
• To avoid danger to persons or other trafic using the road or any other road or to
prevent the likelihood of such danger arising
• To prevent damage to the road or to any building on or near the road
• To facilitate the passage on the road or any other road of any class of trafic
(including pedestrians)
• To prevent the use of the road by vehicular trafic of a kind, or in a manner, which
is unsuitable in relation to the character of the road or adjoining property
• To preserve the character of a road where it is specially suitable for use on
horseback or on foot
• To preserve or improve the amenities of the area through which the road runs
• In the interests of conserving air quality [added by the 1995 Environment Act].
Source: Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984