Minister Carlisle Reveals New Tourism Signage for R44/Annandale Intersection

The Minister for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, Robin Carlisle, has revealed his Department's plans regarding the issue of tourism signage at the busy R44/Annandale Road Intersection, near Somerset West.

The announcement follows a meeting held yesterday evening, 22 August 2011, between the Ministry, Department officials and the affected communities.

"Yesterday we presented our plans to the local community and we are happy to announce that they were unanimously accepted."

"There are too many tourism facilities on Annandale Road to allow signs with individual facility names to be accommodated at the intersection. This means that the multitude of guest lodges, cellars and restaurants on Annandale Road east of the R44 have been losing out on passing trade."

"We yesterday informed the community of our plans to place a single tourism sign at either approach, indicating the range of tourism facilities available on what has been designated as Tourist Route 4."

"The Department will then provide an information lay-by on Annandale Road (East), where motorists will be able to pull over safely and look at the tourism options available in detail for each operator on the eastern Annandale Road. The lay-by will consist of a map showing the location of each operator, and the tourism facilities available."

"This will replace the current jumble of illegal signs along the road. Individual operators can also obtain an official sign upon application to be erected at their premises."

Head of Ministry, Hector Eliott, representing Minister Carlisle at yesterday's meeting, said that the new signs would be erected within one month.

"The lay-by with detailed information is to be erected as soon thereafter as possible, but a timeline cannot be determined while the design is unknown and requirements such as an Environmental Impact Analysis are undetermined," said Eliott.

"Our goal is to have the lay-by in place for the December holiday season. This project will serve as a pilot project to inform future best practice, where we balance road safety requirements, information requirements and the promotion of the richness of the Western Cape's tourism offering, and thereby maximise the benefits for all our people."