Traffic Regulation Order consultations

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are legal documents developed by the Traffic Authority which are required to support a range of different measures, which govern or restrict the use of public roads. These measures include:

• waiting and loading restrictions (double yellow lines, limited waiting, loading etc.)
• one-way streets
• banned turns
• speed limits
• weight or width restrictions
• bus or cycle lanes

The law in the UK requires that these legal orders are in place to allow the police, or civil enforcement officers in the case of parking restrictions to enforce various restrictions and prohibitions of traffic on public streets.

Process

There is a set legal process that the Traffic Authority has to follow in order to introduce a TRO as specified in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) and the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996.

The process includes the following stages:

1. Statutory consultation with the emergency services and other public bodies. Local interest groups such as residents and businesses may be consulted where appropriate.
2. Advertisement of the proposal by formal notice (Notice of Intention) in the local press and displaying notices in the roads affected. A 21-day objection period commences the day the notice is advertised during which interested parties may raise objections.
3. Any objections received during the 21-day consultation period are formally considered through the Council's Delegated Decision Procedure where a decision on how the proposal will be taken forward is made. If it is decided that major changes to the proposal are needed the TRO has to be advertised again.
4. The TRO will then be formally made and introduced. A Notice of Making is published in the local press to advise that the Order is being made.

The TRO process can take many months to complete, especially if objections result in the TRO being changed and re-advertised. A TRO can remain in operation indefinitely and if the Council needs to modify or revoke a TRO, it must follow the same procedure as detailed above.

Comment or object

The Notice of Intention details how you can submit a comment or objection to a proposal. Objections should be submitted in writing quoting the proposed TRO reference number (this usually starts PKG-P) and can be sent by post or by email. Your comments must be submitted before the end of the consultation period, which is clearly stated in each order.

At the end of the consultation period, any comments or objections received are formally considered through the council’s Delegated Decision Procedure where a decision on the implementation of the order is made. This may involve consultation with stakeholders, Councillors and Parish or Town Councils.

The decision making procedure can be lengthy depending on the level of feedback received, but on average it can take anywhere from 4 to 16 weeks. Once a decision has been reached only those who submitted a comment or objection will be notified of the outcome.

Currently under consultation

Last updated 17 March 2023