Authority of the red line

I enclose copies of maps supplied by the British Library. What is the standing of “Dotted Eyes” who have referred me to OS on this matter? Who or what authority put in the red line and why?

The maps show a red line which, I was informed, at the British Library, represents the midline of the roadway. Please confirm that this is so and with what legal authority.

Who or what authority put in the red line or requested it and for what purpose?

Thank you for your letter dated 12^th July 2010. We are pleased to provide you with the following information in response:

Dotted Eyes Ltd is a Licensed Partner of Ordnance Survey, holding appropriate licenses to re sell Ordnance Survey data products. Dotted Eyes Ltd developed the Legal Deposit Libraries Map Viewer, to enable access to the archive maps you have been provided in this instance. 

Ordnance Survey incorporated the red lines to which you refer (road centerlines) into the Ordnance Survey Land-Line® product (which was withdrawn in September 2008) in the late 1980s/early 1990s, as a consequence of customer feedback. The road centerlines do not convey any legal authority; they simply provide a road network within the extent of the surveyed road detail.

Within Land-Line a road was defined as a metalled way for vehicles.  Land-Line contained information relating to those roads which formed the public road network and those in private property which were over 100m in length.

Please note that your enquiry has been processed to Freedom of Information guidelines.  As all the requested information has been provided, we have determined that in all the circumstances of this case the Public interest consideration (section 17 FOIA) is not applicable in this instance.

If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

Complaints Team

Customer Service Centre

Ordnance Survey

Romsey Road

SOUTHAMPTON

SO16 4GU 

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry

Reference number: FOI1084/July 2010