Pavement advert rules relaxed – but £5m insurance is a must
Wednesday 14th July 2010, 6:30PM BST.
Stringent limits on pavement advertising in two Shropshire market towns have been relaxed by council chiefs – as long as businesses provide public liability insurance of up to £5 million.
Shropshire Council is now saying traders in Ludlow and Bridgnorth can have two A-boards outside advertising their store, rather than the one, providing insurance is obtained for health and safety reasons.
Bosses say the insurance will cover the council against “any accidents or claims which may arise, or be attributable to, the presence of ‘the equipment’ on the public highway either during the time they are being erected in position or being removed”.
Business owners in the two towns had hit out at the plans to limit the use of A-boards, saying they could damage trade.
Councillor Martin Taylor Smith, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “We have always recognised that A-boards help local shops, especially in the current economic conditions, and can be a benefit to a vibrant market town.
“However, having listened carefully to the views and concerns of local businesses we have identified the need to revise the A- board criteria.”
The revised scheme will operate with immediate effect.
Sarah Clarke, from the Ludlow Laundry, said: “The council should stick to their responsibility of keeping the streets cleaned and leave us traders alone.”
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Shropshire Council has clear authority under the Highways Act to remove obstructions from the highway. But I was not aware that act gave the Council the power to impose regulations as to what constitutes an obstruction. Or for that matter to demand that traders are insured. Of course traders should be insured, but that is not a matter for the highways authority.
Coming next. Council insists cyclists in Ludlow only allowed to park bikes outside shops on proof of liability insurance. Pedestrians in Bridgnorth fined by Council for pausing too long on pavement for a chat.
Coming soon. Redundancies in the Department of Petty Regulations at Shropshire Council…
Report abuse
Sorry but even a blind person with a stick would avoid these ” obstructions “. Just what have we, the public done about getting rid of these individuals? These jobs worths are on a fat salary, a fat inflation proof pension justifying their existence.
Report abuse
Most businesses already have public idemnity cover for hundreds of thousands or even millions of quid, so it’s not that much of a cross to bear. I think that Sarah Clarke should realise that the council are doing what they are obliged to do, keeping the streets clear and if possible risk free.
Report abuse
The underlying problem here is of liability. There are people out there who will demand compensation if they fall over an A board and that compensation will either come from the council or that business, and there are plenty of people willing to sue.
Until we sort out the issue of why these rules have to be imposed then this sort of thing is here to stay.
Report abuse