It was held that the presumption of law which arose had not been rebutted by the defendant’s alleged acts of ownership and the verge was held to be part of the highway and the keeping of vehicles there by the defendant to be an actionable obstruction. Left Turn Ahead Prohibited Sign– this road sign warns drivers that an incoming available left turn is not passable. The general principle of law relating to the ownership of the soil of such strips was stated by Gibbs CJ in Grose v West (1816) 7 Taunt 39, in the following words: Prima facie, the presumption is, that a strip of land lying between a highway and the adjoining close, belongs to the owner of the close; as the presumption also is that the highway itself to the centre line of the road does. But the presumption is to be confined to that extent; for if the narrow strip be contiguous to or communicate with open commons, or larger portions of land, the presumption is either done away or considerably narrowed; for the evidence of ownership which applies to the larger portions, applies also to the narrow strip which communicates with them. No U-Turn Sign– this road sign warns all drivers that no U-Turn slot is available at the near distance.

If the council of a parish …. represent to a local highway authority … (b) that an unlawful encroachment has taken place on a roadside waste comprised in a highway for which they are the highway authority, it is the duty of the local highway authority, unless satisfied that the representations are incorrect to take proceedings accordingly and they may do so in their own name. Lane Ends Signs– this road sign warns drivers that the lane they are currently on are about to end and entails them to slow down. Bridge Road Sign– this road traffic warning sign indicates that there is a bridge ahead and entails the driver to slow down a little bit. Parking Area Sign– this sign informs drivers that parking space is available at a certain direction.Left Lane Ends Symbol– this road sign warns drivers that the left lane on their side of the road is ending and that they need to transfer to next lane slowly. No Parking-Stopping Side Strip– this road marking prohibits any vehicle to park or stop on any road shoulder or side at all times. Learner drivers and current drivers on UK roads are seen to drive near or over the soft verges at speed. It is best to be seen to slow down and take care when it comes to driving over soft verges. This can curb the risk of accidents. Where are you likely to see the "soft verges" sign? It is the duty of the highway authority to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of any highway for which they are the highway authority, including any roadside waste which forms part of it.

The legal remedies available to local authorities are described in Rights of Way – a guide to law and practice (John Riddall and John Trevelyan, 4th edition, 2007). Left Bend Sign– this road sign warns drivers that there is an incoming bend on the road going to the left. it is the duty of a local highway authority to prevent any unlawful encroachment on any roadside waste ….. for which they are the highway authority. Sometimes a road does not run between fences, but across open common or manorial waste; and in that case the presumption of dedication between fences does not apply. Neeld v Hendon UDC (1899) 63 JP 724.Traffic Signal Ahead Sign– this road sign warns drivers of a traffic signal ahead and entails them to slow down. The sign has also been adapted to indicate a watercourse alongside the road. This may be a stream running in the gutter, as is found in the streets of the City of Wells, or something more substantial. See Quayside for more information.

Sometimes the roadside strips belong, not to the owner of the adjoining property, but to the lord of the manor, and are part of the manorial waste. In such cases they may or may not be subject to rights of common, but in either event they may be held to have been dedicated to public passage, in which case also they are part of the highway. See East v Berkshire County Council (1911) 76 JP 35; and Evelyn v Mirrielees (1900), 17 TLR 152, CA; 65 JP 131n).Local Acts of Parliament Some local authorities have their own private acts that give them powers to control or manage roadside verges and restrict the right of passage by certain categories of user. Ask the legal department of your county authority if such an act exists for your area. Verges often provide a soft turf surface of value to equestrians who would otherwise be limited to using a metalled road which is often unsafe and sometimes of a character unsuitable for horses.

Congestion Sign– this road warning gives drivers a heads up that traffic might be built up on the road ahead and entails them to slow down. If the inclosure of roadside verges is permitted, any necessary widening of the metalled highway will be more costly by reason of the consequent compensation to the owners of the adjoining lands, and perhaps some much-needed road improvement may thereby be prevented. Reduced Visibility Sign– this road sign warns drivers that there might be low visibility in that specific part of the road. No tree, shrub, grass verge, guard or fence shall be planted, laid out or erected under this section, or, if planted, laid out or erected under this section, allowed to remain, in such a situation as to hinder the reasonable use of the highway by any person entitled to use it ...Soft verges may seem like a small thing; however, they are a big part of driving. They're very important because they can make the difference between a dangerous situation and a safe one. If there is an accident as a result of soft verges, then it may mean that the center of gravity is off and this can lead to an accident. Excessive Noise Prohibited Sign– this road warning entails drivers that honking is prohibited in the area. These ‘roadside strips’ are now more commonly referred to as ‘roadside verges’. It is important that strips of roadside verge should be safeguarded from any illegal attempts to inclose them for the following reasons. Combined Curve Signs– this road warning indicates that there are two curved roads ahead and warns the driver to know which road to go to. Revised by the late Gordon Hands. While the Open Spaces Society has made every effort to ensure the information obtained in this factsheet is an accurate summary of the subject as at the date of publication, it is unable to accept liability for any misinterpretation of the law or any other error or omission in the advice in this paper.