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  3. Road signs

Road signs

We are responsible for the maintenance of most road signs in Cheshire East and for giving permission for new signs. 

If you put up a road sign without permission, we will take it down and charge you for the cost of doing so.

Report a road sign issue

You can report an issue with a road sign online.

Report a road sign issue

New road signs

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Brown tourist signs

We can provide brown tourist signs for destinations that meet the tourist sign criteria. Costs are paid for by the business or organisation asking for the sign.

Black and white signs for local facilities 

We'll consider a request for a sign to a local facility where the facility is hard for people to find and is used by visitors who won't know where it is.

The organisation asking for the sign must pay the costs.

We only allow signs where they are really needed - where there is a problem that the sign will solve. This is because Department of Transport guidelines say we must keep roads free of clutter that might distract drivers and cause accidents. 

For facilities on main roads, we only put up signs if awkward access means it's important for safety reasons to give visitors advance warning of where to turn.

The types of facilities we can provide signs for include:

  • schools
  • sports clubs
  • vets' surgeries
  • village halls
  • churches and other places of worship

Costs for black and white signs

You can expect to pay a minimum of £1,500 for us to make the signs and put them up. The cost depends on the number and size of signs, the number of new posts needed, and how quickly you want the signs.

You may also need to pay for temporary traffic lights or other measures needed to protect workers putting up the signs. There is a non-refundable deposit to cover our assessment of where signs could go and what work will be needed to erect them.

Non-refundable deposit for black and white signs

1 sign - £380

2 signs - £635

Each extra sign - £130

What to do if you want new black and white signs

The first thing to do if you think your facility needs a black and white sign is to contact the highways team by emailing signapplications@cheshireeasthighways.org

We'll then get in touch with you you to find out more. 

Once we know what's involved, we'll give you a confirmed quote. We'll normally do this within 2 weeks. It may take longer if you want lots of signs.

After you confirm your order, it then takes at least 6 weeks to make the signs and put them up. We schedule work to fit in with any road closures planned for other purposes.

Warning and restriction signs

To find out about new warning and restriction signs, see nuisance parking, speeding, and HGVs and weight restrictions.

Yellow events and housing development signs

If you want to put temporary signs on a road to direct people to an event or housing development, you should arrange this through a signage company. Whichever company you choose, they will contact us and deal with all the arrangements.

If you are from a signage company, contact the highways team by emailing yellowsigns@cheshireeasthighways.org

Street name signs

Developers are responsible for providing street name signs for new streets.

In order to achieve best value from the available resources, new street name plates are dealt with as part of a programme of similar works throughout the Borough. Priority is generally given to the busy main routes, those locations where there is no street name plate or where there is only one sign and this has become illegible.

You can report any issues with street name signs using our report it form. Choose signs, then choose street name plates. 

Boundary signs

We can provide boundary signs for town and parish councils.

We put the signs on the edge of the town or village, which might not be the actual boundary. We can add a road safety message if you want us to.

Boundary signs belong to the town or parish council who buy them. If the sign needs to be replaced, then the town or parish council will need to pay for a new one. Signs have an expected life of at least 10 years. You can get insurance to cover theft and damage by vehicles and vandals.

Costs for boundary signs

You can expect to pay a minimum of £1,500 for us to make the signs and put them up. The cost depends on the number and size of signs, the number of new posts needed, and how quickly you want the signs.

You may also need to pay for temporary traffic lights or other measures needed to protect workers putting up the signs.

There is a non-refundable deposit to cover our assessment of where signs could go and what work will be needed to erect them.

Non-refundable deposit for boundary signs

1 sign - £380

2 signs - £635

Each extra sign - £130

What to do if you want new boundary signs

To ask about boundary signs, contact the highways team by emailing signapplications@cheshireeasthighways.org

We'll then get in touch with you you to find out more. 

Once we know what's involved, we'll give you a confirmed quote. We'll normally do this within 2 weeks. It may take longer if you want lots of signs.

After you confirm your order, it then takes at least 6 weeks to make the signs and put them up. We schedule work to fit in with any road closures planned for other purposes.

Contact us

Contact Highways

Highways - Cheshire East Council Report a problem online

If you consider a highways issue to be dangerous, or an emergency:

Call the Highways Customer Services Team on 0300 123 5020
during office hours 8:30am – 5:00pm

Call the Out of hours team on 0300 123 5025
after 5pm and before 8:30am, including weekends.

Highways
Floor 6
Delamere House

Delamere Street Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 2LL
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Page last reviewed: 17 February 2025

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