Business Update: Changes to A-Board Policy
In light of the recent introduction of a new countywide Interim Policy for the Management of A-Boards by Worcestershire County Council, we would like to provide you with a useful update to help you adhere to the new A-Board policy.
There are a few small changes that may affect your displays:
- A-Boards must be no more than 1m high and 0.75m wide (previously 1m wide). *
- A-Boards that do not meet the conditions may be removed, without notice, under powers granted by the Highways Act 1980.
- The interim policy is enforced by Worcestershire County Council Officers.
As before, a business may only display one A-Board on the public footway, provided it meets the requirements outlined in the policy. An A-Board per entrance would be allowable where there are clearly distinct entrances at different points. The A-Board must be placed within the frontage of the business, immediately adjacent to (i.e. touching) the front boundary of the business.
Click here to view the full Interim Policy for the Management of A-Boards (2019).
Changes have been made by Worcestershire County Council in light of the Local Transport Plan (LTP4) to align countywide policies. They ensure the city is safe, attractive, easy to navigate and does not contain any unnecessary trip hazards for customers and visitors, in particular the visually impaired, wheelchair users, the less mobile and those with prams, buggies or mobility scooters.
To avoid removal, please ensure to check your business’ A-Board complies with these revised rules.
* Previous dimensions were 1m x 1m, which Worcestershire County Council research and discussions with equalities and highways officers showed was too big. In fact, this was far larger than any other authority in England allows, and almost twice as large as the average. Therefore, the reduced allowable size has been set at 1m high x 0.75m wide – still larger than almost all other authorities. Discussions with City Council have shown that this may mean many A-Boards in Worcester are a few centimetres too wide. It would not be expected that these would be enforced against, under the principle of using enforcement 'proportionate and appropriate to the individual circumstances' (unless of course they broke any of the other rules).
