Guide to applying to put up banners to publicise your event

GUIDE TO APPLYING TO PUT UP BANNERS TO PUBLICISE YOUR EVENT OR FESTIVAL Published: December 2012

Guide to applying to put up banners to publicise your event or festival 1. Introduction 2. What factors are considered in assessing applications for banners?

3. Where can I erect banners?

4. Permitted sizes of banners 5. How to apply to erect a banner 1. Introduction Festivals and other organisations sometimes want to promote events with a cross-street banner or a banner across railings.

Because these banners feature the name of the organisation, the dates of the event, and often a logo, they are deemed advertisements and are subject to advertising consent (a type of planning permission). Advertising consent covers a wide range of displays including billboard hoardings and shop signs as well as banners. Detailed information can be obtained in the useful guidance from the Department of Communities and Local Government: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/outdooradvertisements

The Council has also produced its own guidance which can be downloaded from the right hand side of the following page. http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/do-i-need-planningpermission/advice-advertisement-control

2. What factors are considered in assessing applications for banners?

Consent for advertising is determined by the local planning authority (Bath & North East Somerset Council). Issues which are considered are: • the visual appearance of the advertisement and whether it is detrimental to people’s enjoyment of the surrounding area: this is particularly a consideration in the World Heritage Site of Bath • the safety of the physical structure and how it is fixed; • whether the visual appearance or the words will be a hazard to drivers (causing them to divert their attention from traffic conditions and highways signs) • the period of time that the advertisement will be on site 3. Where can I erect banners? a) Sites with existing consent Certain sites in Bath have existing advertising consent until 27 March 2016.

To use these sites, you simply need to complete the application form referred to in ‘How to apply to erect a banner’ below.

The permitted sites are: Type of banner Cross-street banner

Location Milsom Street, Bath

Pennant (triangular) banners x3

Stall Street, Bath

Pennant (triangular) banners x 10 Railing banners

Great Pulteney Street, Bath (5 per side)

Vertical (rectangular) banners x 11

North Parade Road (on the bridge leading to the Sports Centre and by the vehicle entrance to the Pavilion) Various locations: Manvers Street, Orange Grove

Permitted duration The banner shall not be displayed for more than a 7-day continuous period.

No banner shall be displayed for more than 2 weeks in any calendar month.

Once a banner has been removed it shall not be displayed again for at least 7 days.

The banners shall not be hung for more than 7 days in any calendar month.

The banners shall only be displayed from 1 March to 31 October.

The banners shall not be hung for more than one 7 day continuous period in a one-year period.

The banners shall not be hung for more than 7 days in one calendar month.

The banners shall only be displayed from 1 March to 31 October.

The banners shall not be displayed for more than a 7 day continuous period.

The banners shall not be displayed for more than 4 weeks in any calendar year.

There shall be at least 7 days in between each set of banners being displayed.

Conditions applying to use of these sites: a. No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission. b. No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to (i) endanger persons using any highway, railway, waterway, dock, harbour or aerodrome (civil or military); (ii) obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by water or air; or

(iii) hinder the operation of any device used for the purpose of security or surveillance or for measuring the speed of any vehicle. c. Any advertisement displayed, and any site used for the display of advertisements, shall be maintained in a condition that does not impair the visual amenity of the site. d. Any structure or hoarding erected or used principally for the purpose of displaying advertisements shall be maintained in a condition that does not endanger the public. e. Where an advertisement is required under these Regulations to be removed, the site shall be left in a condition that does not endanger the public or impair visual amenity. b) Other sites To use other sites in Bath, and all other areas of the district, you will first need to enquire from development_control@bathnes.gov.uk whether the site you wish to use is feasible. If it is feasible, you will then need to make a planning application – see ‘How to apply to erect a banner across the highway’ below.

4. Permitted sizes of banners Cross-street banner Height from the ground: 15m Dimensions: width 7m x height 1m Max height of individual letters or logos: 80cm Materials: pvc ripstop Pennant banner Height from the ground: 2.3m Dimensions: width 60cm x height 1.2m Max height of individual letters or logos: 60cm Materials: pvc ripstop Railing banner Height from the ground: 1m Dimensions: width 3m x height 91.5cm Max height of individual letters or logos: 80cm Materials: pvc ripstop Vertical banner Height from the ground: 2.3m Dimensions: width 80cm x height 2m Max height of individual letters or logos: 80cm Materials: pvc ripstop

5. How to apply to erect a banner a) Sites with existing consent See the banners across the highway page of the Council website here http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/streets-and-highway-maintenance/licences-andpermits/banners-across-highway

Here you will find the conditions for erecting banners and the application form (downloadable on right hand side of page) which needs to be completed and returned to highways@bathnes.gov.uk You will be informed whether the site(s) you want to use are available on your preferred dates. It is therefore advisable to book as far in advance as possible to ensure your booking. b) Other sites To use other sites in Bath, and all other areas of the district, you will first need to make a planning application using the online Planning Portal on the Apply for planning permission page of the Council website here http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/apply-planning-permission .

Follow the guidance on this page and the Before you apply page here http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/apply-planningpermission/you-apply . It can take up to 12 weeks for consent to be granted.

Once you have planning permission, see the banners across the highway page of the Council website here http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/streets-andhighway-maintenance/licences-and-permits/banners-across-highway .

Here you will find the conditions for erecting banners and the application form (downloadable on right hand side of page) which needs to be completed and returned to highways@bathnes.gov.uk You will be informed whether the site(s) you want to use are available on your preferred dates. It is therefore advisable to book as far in advance as possible to ensure your booking.

November 2012