A boards are a popular way of advertising local businesses to passing members of the public.

However, too many A boards in urban areas cause unsightly street clutter, impact heritage street scenes and conservation areas, and obstruct the free use of the public highway.

This particularly impacts those with disabilities, parents with pushchairs, older people (both those walking and using mobility vehicles) and others with mobility impairments. 

Equalities and Highways legislation require Highways Authorities to uphold the primary purpose of the public highway, to assert and protect the rights of the public to use the highway and allow equal access for all groups to move freely and without obstruction.

Footway obstructions cause  significant access problems for groups with protected characteristics under the Equality Act  (2010) and, in some instances, they may deter people from accessing local facilities.

Adopted our policy, within Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4), requires public spaces and public highways (including footways) to cater for all groups, remain free of obstruction, minimise deviation to direct walking routes and be readily understood and navigated by pedestrians.

This interim policy sets out how we intend to deliver that aspect of the LTP4.

Obstructions of the highway are liable to enforcement but minor items not impairing public use can be tolerated (e.g. shop produce by a shop frontage). 

Our temporary A boards Policy set out guidance on how A boards can be acceptable on the highway, although as the highways authority retains overriding powers, below, to deal with A boards.

A business may display one A board on the public footway, provided it meets the following requirements. 

At this stage, no licence or application process will apply; however it is intended this will be a requirement of the comprehensive policy, currently in development.

For the purposes of this policy, the term 'business' includes all other organisations that may advertise on the Highway.

The term 'A board' includes all temporary advertising materials on the Highway, including bicycles used for that purpose.

The policy shall apply to all public highway areas, including footways, verges, accesses and public areas that are on Highways land (e.g. the 'gravels' in Broadway).

• the owner of the business remains liable for the A board at all times
• businesses not on Highways are reminded they remain liable for A boards at all times
• third party owned land, the relevant landowner will be responsible for management of A boards
• must be no more than 1m high and 0.75m wide
• must be placed within the boundary of the business
• there must be a minimum of 1.8m of unobstructed footway between any trafficked carriageway
• will not be acceptable if it is near to permanent street furniture, trees etc that reduce footway below 1.8m
• will not be acceptable on highway verges
• in places off the main road, like shopping arcades or alleys, you can put up a sign by the road
• for the duration of the Interim A boards Policy, each business will be allowed an A board
• must be removed from the public highway outside of the business's hours of opening
• must be freestanding, withstand heavy winds, and must not be attached to street furniture
• must be presented, with no moving or protruding parts or attachments
• they must not present any hazard to highway users, for example a trip hazard, or distraction to drivers
• if they do not meet the above conditions, they may be removed without notice, under the Highways Act 1980
• we will not be responsible for storing A boards for longer than one week after removal

This image shows an A board on a street that is not in the way on a public path.

Management and enforcement of this policy will be undertaken by our officers. Management and enforcement will be proportionate and appropriate to the individual circumstances. 

A boards will be inspected by our officers, and owners of non-compliant A boards will be notified. These boards may be subject to removal.

Members of the public can use the other road and footway issues reporting to draw our attention to A boards that may require investigation to ensure compliance with the policy.

The public and business communities should continue to work alongside our elected members to ensure compliance. City, Borough and District Councils, market and town centre managers, and other relevant officers should continue to work with us to manage their local areas.

Local members should in the first instance raise concerns with their local Highways Liaison Engineer, to pursue investigation