Traffic Regulation Orders

Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) are legally enforceable restrictions on traffic which are used to control parking, speed and the movement of traffic.

In order to introduce, remove or amend a TRO the council must follow a statutory process by which the proposals are advertised publicly for a 21 day period. During this time comments and objections to the proposals can be received. Any objections which cannot be resolved result in a report on the matter being presented to the appropriate Council panel for a decision on the proposals to be made.

The council has the powers to enforce some TROs such as those regarding parking and bus lanes, but does not have the power to enforce most moving traffic offences such as speeding and contravention of no entry’s. The police have the power to enforce moving traffic offences.

Any requests for TRO’s should be made in writing using the contact details below and having first read the following information concerning the different kind of TRO below;
 

Parking restrictions can be introduced to allow or prohibit on street parking. Such restrictions include single and double yellow lines, loading restrictions, limited waiting bays, loading only bays and school keep clear restrictions. They can be introduced to cover certain times or all hours of the day. The existence of parking restrictions is indicated by the signing and lining that is displayed on street. Parking restrictions are most effective in town centres or other areas where there are high volumes of traffic, demand for parking and where unrestricted parking is likely to lead to congestion and road safety issues. The council receives many requests for parking restrictions to be introduced in residential areas. Whilst all requests are given due consideration, it is unlikely that the introduction of TRO’s in residential areas will be supported by the wider community or be an effective method of controlling residential parking where car ownership exceeds available on street parking space. The council will intervene when it considers there to be road safety concerns or the free movement of traffic is impeded by parking problems.
 

Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) are sometimes referred to as residents parking schemes, however CPZ’s can cover both residential and business/town centre areas. They work by introducing a TRO which restricts parking within an identified area to permit holders only.
Residential CPZ’s can be an effective way to manage parking in residential areas which are situated close to an amenity which attracts significant numbers of non-residents to an area who are likely to park for significant lengths of time and cause disruption to the daily lives of those residents. The council has a CPZ policy which broadly sets out the method through which such zones are introduced and the associated costs. The council expects that residents requesting a CPZ are able to demonstrate popular support in their community for the implementation of such a scheme. Council funding for such schemes is extremely limited and as such communities will need to identify their own funding.
 

TROs can also be used to restrict the movement of traffic. Examples of such restrictions are prohibited turns, one way systems, no entry, pedestrianised areas and bus and cycle lanes. These restrictions are usually used to address a specific problem or to create a particular use of road space in a town centre for example.
 

On the road for which the council is the Highway Authority, it has the powers to introduce speed limits as is deemed appropriate for that type and use of road. Most roads will have a 30 mph speed limit; this is indicated by the existence of lamp columns at regular intervals on street as detailed in the Highway Code. Speed limits of 40mph or greater will be shown by the use of road signs indicating the speed limit. Many residential areas of Tameside, particularly those around schools, are part of 20mph zones. These zones are signed slightly differently to other speed limits, in that signs are only present at the point where a zone is entered and again at the point where the zone is existed. No repeater signs are used within the zone. As such drivers are expected to maintain speeds of up to 20 mph until they see a sign that indicates that they have left the zone and showing the speed limit of the road which they are entering. 20 mph zones will usually have traffic calming features within them to make the zone self-enforcing.