This page gets into some rather technical details about direction signs but at its heart it is about the need for local government officers to work with, rather than subvert, local community initiatives. In 2006 the Farnham Greenway Alliance agreed designs for the Greenway network. The design remit reflected the Greenway Principles and required that signing was:
- distinctive, making a statement about the existence of Greenways as strategic, alternative transport network;
- able to convey a clear and consistent identity for each Greenway;
- inclusive, encouraging different non-motorised users;
- in line with the Department for Transport (DfT) Design Traffic Regulations to ensure the consistent signing from on-road to off-road sections;
- acceptable in off-road settings.
From these requirements it was clear that the signs for each Greenway would have a distinctive name and symbol that related to the route. The ‘Weyside Greenway’ follows the River Wey and would have a stylised river symbol. The ‘Scholars Greenway’ links schools and educational establishments and would have a mortar board symbol representing scholarship. The general layout, text fonts, user symbols, destination and distances would of course follow the DfT Design Traffic Regulations. What was not clear was the background colour as this is more or less dictated by the type of DfT directional sign chosen. The classic blue background cycle route directional sign design (as specified in DfT-P2602) was rejected for three reasons. The blue colour was deemed inappropriate for the open spaces of Farnham such as Borelli Walk and Farnham Park (as confirmed by consultation with the Farnham Park Advisory Group). The design was also seen as rather exclusive, emphasising that the route was for cyclists when in fact the majority of users would likely be pedestrian. Finally, it would be quite strange to have the word ‘Greenway’ on a blue background!
So what directional signs can be used. The regulations on signs for pedestrian routes (as specified in DfT-P2607) are far more flexible, as these are allowed to use ‘any contrasting colour’. On this basis a design with a green background, appropriate for the off-road sections, could be used. The only limitation with this approach is that the cycle symbol would not be allowed to be included on the highway signage. However, this eventuality can easily be addressed following Surrey County Council highways advice to ‘consider using road markings to sign cycle routes instead of or to supplement conventional sign plates’. 
The result is a basic design (see left) for a distinctive sign that welcomes pedestrian and disabled users and can be used consistently along the Greenway routes. Supplementary cycle road markings would also be used, where required, to encourage cyclists.
Unfortunately, this solution, which sensitively meets all the design criteria, has been rejected by Surrey County Council Highways who are planning to sign up an incomplete section of the Scholars Greenway as a cycle route (see left).
