Traffic and road changes: How to find notices and have your say
Find out how proposed changes to parking, speed limits and road closures are publicised, and how residents can respond before decisions are made.
New yellow lines, changing speed limits and sudden road closure are just some of the many changes going on around us every day.
If you’ve been wondering who is making these decisions and how? You might not realise that in most cases it wasn’t decided quietly and you had the right to have your say.
What are traffic and roads notices?
Traffic management orders are official notices that inform the public about proposed changes affecting the roads in their area.
These can be permanent changes, such as new parking restrictions, altered speed limits or one-way systems.
However they can also be temporary, such as a road closure for resurfacing work or a street party.
Councils and highways authorities are legally required to publicise these proposals before they take effect, giving residents a genuine opportunity to respond.
The importance of community input
When a local authority proposes a change – whether it is introducing a new speed limit, removing a parking bay or closing a road – public consultation is not just a formality.
It ensures that you have the opportunity to make your views clear to those leading the project.
Community feedback can and does shape the outcome, making it important to engage while the proposal is still open.
For example, when Lancashire County Council (LCC) proposed new parking restrictions in Preston, residents who spotted the notice were able to submit objections before the deadline – and their responses were considered before a final decision was made.
What kinds of change can be proposed?
Traffic notices cover a wide range of proposals, including:
- Introducing or removing yellow lines and parking bays
- Changing speed limits or making streets one-way
- Placing zig-zag lines outside schools
- Installing speed bumps
- Closing roads for resurfacing, building works or new cables
- Special event closures for street parties, parades or festivals
Finding notices near you
All traffic and roads notices published in printed local newspapers are uploaded to the Public Notice Portal – a free digital one-stop shop for public notices – by local publishers including the Lancashire Post.
You can search by postcode or browse a map, and sign up for email alerts so you never miss any potential changes that could affect your street or commute.
To search for traffic and roads notices in your area, visit publicnoticeportal.uk