Businesses can show they are ‘A’-grade advertisers

14 November 2011

A new initiative, A-board Aware, is being launched to encourage businesses in Maidstone to show that they are responsible advertisers.

Shop keepers, café owners and firms that use advertising boards – so-called ‘A-boards’ – can demonstrate they display signs on the pavement in a way that minimises obstructions to parents with pushchairs, the elderly, and those with sight difficulties or mobility problems, following a change in policy. 

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, Bryan Sweetland, said:

“We want to balance the interests of business that use this form of advertising with people who can have problems on crowded pavements, such as those who have difficulty getting around, those with sight problems, or mums and dads with prams.

“We know advertising is important for business and given the current economic conditions, we are not charging businesses for this scheme. If they want to put an ‘A’-board on the pavement outside their premises, then they should do so in a responsible way by complying with our guidelines, which are based on Department for Transport advice.

“Those firms that comply with the regulations will receive a window sticker that they can put up in the shop front, showing that they are taking care to avoid causing an obstruction on the street outside their shop or business.
 
"Where we do find an A-board placed inappropriately, we will advise the owner to re-site it and encourage them to sign up to our scheme. However, if the owner doesn't take action, we will remove it ourselves."

Neville Butteriss and Pat Edwards, who have been campaigning against A-boards, welcomed the initiative. Mr Butteriss also suggested that business could consider using different forms of advertising.

Mr Butteriss said:

“A-frames are there for a purpose and I’m not here to stop people trading. I’m all for people trading in the town – there’s too many shops closing down. It would be nice if more businesses could trade without advertising blocking up the streets. My argument has always been let’s have signs hanging outside shops.”

Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Mrs Jo James, said:
 
“I am delighted that Kent County Council understands the balance that has to be struck between the benefits advertising boards bring traders and how they can add to the cultural environment of town centres, and the requirement to make sure potential hazards are minimised. This is a welcome initiative from Kent County Council."