Hampshire County Council is taking positive action to pilot the county’s first licensing scheme for A-boards.
The year-long pilot will take place in Andover town centre, where the County Council has recently had to resort to legal action over the placement of A-Boards on the public highway. This followed safety complaints from the public, which the Council has a legal duty to follow up as the Highway Authority.
Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “First of all, I’d like to say that I am grateful to the majority of the business owners who removed their A-boards following the complaints.”
“The idea behind our new licensing scheme in Andover is that controlled regulation will better suit both the businesses and residents by being clear about sizes, dimensions and suitability of locations. We will continue to support the local economy while ensuring that the footways and pedestrianised areas remain safe for all who use them, including those with visual or mobility issues.”
The pilot will be run within Andover Town Centre for 12 months, and will be reviewed after the first four months. Businesses will be required to apply for a license which includes a £50 fee to cover the costs of operating the scheme.
Further information is available here
