Over the years the number and size of A-boards used by businesses on footpaths has increased. The Council has consulted with residents and businesses and taken action to better control the increase in A-Boards and improve safety on public footways for people with a visual impairment, problems with mobility, and child buggy and pushchair users.
On 9 November 2011 the Council adopted a policy ‘Footway Obstructions Policy – A-boards’ which addressed the concerns of people who find it difficult to negotiate public footways due to A-Boards, but balances the needs for shops and traders to attract customers into their premises. This common sense policy strikes the right balance and supports the Council’s aim of making the street scene both attractive and easy to use for all.
Clear rules, so that everyone understands the requirements of the policy and are treated equally, have been agreed with the support of the Bath Improvement District (BID) and People First B&NES.
Key Points
- We have not introduced a licensing or permitting system and no charges will be levied against businesses who comply with the rules;
- The policy only covers A-Boards (portable free standing advertising signs designed to be placed on the ground), and mainly in respect of their size and position; (see conditions below)
- A three month lead in period up to 31 March 2012 and individual guidance on compliance is available;
- From 2 April 2012, businesses that do not comply will be subject to enforcement action, starting with a verbal notice to remove or replace a non-compliant board.
How will these guidelines be introduced?
We are running a publicity campaign about the new policy between January and March 2012. Our officers will visit businesses across Bath and North East Somerset, beginning with Bath city centre, to deliver a leaflet and offer help and advice if you have any concerns.
If you miss our visit, or have any queries please contact Council Connect 01225 39 40 41.
Conditions for using your A-board
From Monday 2 April if you wish to use an A-board on public land you will need to make sure that you follow the guidelines below:
- Use only one board per property frontage.
- Place it against the frontage or property boundary.
- You must leave a minimum of 1.5m width of footway for pedestrians. If this is not possible then you cannot use an A-board here.
- It must be no bigger than 660mm wide and 1250mm high.
- It must be freestanding and not chained or tied to street furniture.
- It must be stable and not weighed down by sandbags.
- It must not have any sharp edges, and swinging and rotating boards are prohibited.
- It must not carry and offensive or political message.
- It must not obstruct visibility at junctions.
- It must not be put out before 9 am to assist regular street cleaning. It must be removed from the street when the property is closed or other street cleansing work is taking place.
- It must be covered by the owner’s public liability insurance.
A-boards may need to be removed during severe weather, events, to permit maintenance or street works or for other reasonable cause. Any additional requirement requested by the Divisional Director – Environmental Services, the police or emergency services, including immediate removal of any item, must also be complied with.
How will the new guidelines be enforced?
From 2 April 2012 the new guidelines will be enforced. This means we may visit any business whose A-board doesn’t meet the guidelines to explain why and ask you to remove or reposition your A-board. If you do not comply with this request we will remove your board and you will be charged a fee of £50 to collect it.
Footway Obstructions Policy – A-boards (pdf 30 kb)
How to use A-board to promote your business (leaflet for business) (pdf 1.5 mb).