Traffic management orders

This page provides information about traffic management orders and notices for permanent and experimental schemes only. For enquiries regarding temporary traffic orders and road closures for streetworks or construction, please telephone the council's Streetworks team: 020 7525 2170 or 020 7525 1360.

Traffic management orders (TMOs) are documents which provide the legal backing for the enforcement of road, traffic or parking schemes under the relevant national legislation.

Follow traffic order consultations to view statutory consultation documents for current road, traffic or parking schemes.

Permanent orders

Permanent orders give rise to the majority of signs and lines that are placed on streets. Examples of these are:

• Single/double yellow lines
• Parking spaces
• Banned turns
• One-ways
• Speed limits

Please note, not all on street restrictions require an order, bus stop clearways and box junctions being two examples.

Experimental orders

Experimental orders are used to enable the Council to monitor the effect and vary as necessary. The duration of an experimental order lasts no more than eighteen months before they are either: allowed to lapse, amended or made permanent.

Road humps and pedestrian crossings

TMOs are not required for road humps or pedestrian crossings but similar procedures with regards to Public Notices and objections apply.

TMO Procedures

By law, the council is required to publish notices in a local newspaper which advertise the proposal and effects of TMOs. In some cases the notices are also published in the London Gazette.  You can view our traffic order consultations to view notices and statutory consultation documents for current road, traffic or parking schemes.

If the council feels additional publicity is needed for a TMO they can choose to erect notices on lamp columns in the street to which any TMO proposal relates.

In the case of permanent and experimental orders the Council must consult statutory bodies such as the Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Bus Operators, Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association. Also, other stakeholders such as cycling and disability groups will be contacted if any TMOs affect them.

How to object to a TMO

The way in which you can object to a proposed TMO is always outlined in the Public Notice and a time period is usually given when letters of objections should be received by. The Council is legally obliged to consider every letter that is sent, replies to which must be made.

After the making of a TMO, if the public feel the Council has not followed the correct procedures in making the order they can appeal to the High Court within six weeks of the TMO being made.