The protection of the appearance of the Bath World Heritage Site and Conservation Area must be considered when implementing the legislation relating to smoke free public places, which comes into force on 1st July 2007. 

The cumulative effect of signage and external fixtures such as ash-boxes can have a detrimental impact on the street scene and this should be avoided. 

The legal requirement to display 'no-smoking' signage does not over-ride the requirement under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) to protect the character and appearance of listed buildings. 

Signage should be kept to the legal minimum.  Listed Building Consent will not be required for free standing signs or signs of the legal minimum size fixed to walls or fittings inside the entrance. 

Listed Building Consent is unlikely to be granted for external signs, ash-boxes, awnings or other fixtures which are physically attached to the exterior of a listed building or to walls or railings of listed buildings.

Proposals for any alterations to listed buildings in relation to the smoking ban should be discussed with the Historic Environment Team in advance, and will be assessed on their merits in line with the existing legislation and government guidance on alterations to listed buildings.