Signs of the times: Ordnance Survey to consult on new map symbols

Mapmaker suggests symbols could be added for bike repair shops, dog waste bins or river access points

For more than 200 years, Ordnance Survey maps have featured symbols denoting everything from churches to battle sites. Now the agency is to consult members of the public on new symbols to bring the maps into the modern world.

It will run a project later this year to discover what the public would like to see on its leisure maps. It could be symbols for bike repair shops, cafes, dog waste bins, or jetties and safe river-access points for water sports.