30 MPH limits and the law (& possibly paging the NorthWiltsisti)

A while back (3-4 years at a guess) while out doing a bit of advanced
training with a Police Instructor, he was talking about his frustration
at councils putting up 30 limit signs where they were not legally
enforceable.

In particular, the need to have appropriately spaced lamp posts before
the road can be restricted to 30.

Is this still the case?

It's just that I noticed that the Greatfield and Hook areas west of
Swindon and chunks of the nearby Lydiard Millicent are sign posted as 30
(in some cases with little repeaters) but with no streetlights at all.

I've not been done there, nor am I suggesting that it's sensible to do
more than 30 there, I'm just wondering about the current legalities.

P.S. If Krusty is reading this, I can't help wonder why that pub's
picture is of a skinny Knight in full armour falling into a haystack.

 

IANAL (so wibble flip, etc), but AIUI the only relevance of
appropriately spaced lamp posts where 30 limits are concerned is that
the presence of such posts negates the requirement for repeater signs
and prompts a requirement for repeater signs for any other limit in
force.

So appropriately spaced lamp posts _or_ appropriately spaced 30mph
repeater signs indicates a 30 limit, but only one or the other is
required. Maybe he meant they were failing to put up the repeaters where
there were no lamp posts?

Yeah, see above. If lamp posts were required, you'd never have 30 limits
in rural villages, which would be bonkers.

 

I went out for a cross-country spin at 3.30 this morning, with glorious
empty roads, and I was aware of my speed all right.

 

<snipped>

IANAL but my understanding is that it is not enforceable regardless of
repeaters or lamp post spacing if there isn't TWO full sized round 30 limit
signs facing in the appropriate direction at the start of the limit. Only
case this is different is on a motorway.

Mind ewe I wouldn't want to try it though.

Mark