Recently a number of contributors to Rye News have commented on the difficulties that advertising boards (A-boards) outside shops cause given the narrow width of most of Rye’s pavements and have questioned what bodies such as the Rye Conservation Society (RCS) are doing about it.
All the roads and the public pavements in Rye are the responsibility of East Sussex County Council Highways so the RCS has contacted them to find out what is the situation regarding A-boards.
The highways department has confirmed that as a general rule East Sussex Highways tolerates the use of one A-board per business without having to apply for a licence and payment of a fee, provided that the following requirements are met:
- The footway must be wide enough to accommodate the A-board, whilst allowing a clear width of pavement for pedestrians of a minimum of 1,200mm, and preferably 1,500mm.
- The A-board is required to be immediately adjacent to the front elevation of the shop so that it is within the owner’s view and control.
- The A-board should be placed out in the same location every day. Any A-boards that are placed remotely from the premises may be removed upon complaint.
- A-boards may not be chained to street furniture, must be removed outside of trading hours, and are placed out at the owner’s liability.
Whilst the difficulties that the shops, cafes and restaurants have and are suffering due to the Covid-19 emergency cannot be ignored, the width of the pavements in Rye and the heights of the kerbs do make it perilous for groups such as the visually impaired and parents with prams and small children if the pavement width is reduced.
So if anyone feels that an A-board does not meet these conditions and is causing a problem do not hesitate to let East Sussex Highways know by raising a new case or cases. This can be done by phoning, emailing or going online and please attach a photograph, if at all possible.
