roposals are being considered to charge businesses for display signage on pavements, for café style chairs and tables, and the planting of trees and placing of benches in memory of a loved one.

Monmouthshire County Council is reviewing the current policies and practices surrounding the management of such 'apparatus' on the public highway.

Apparatus or commercial obstruction are terms used as a catch-all description of items placed on footpaths and public open spaces such as display 'A' boards, shop displays, sale rails, coffee tables and chairs, benches etc.

The council is also considering opportunities to create and manage advertising space on verges on the approach to towns, roundabouts and car parks. It aims to give businesses the opportunity to advertise where the local authority will be able to arrange and manage this safely in the public highway.

At present the policy and procedures provide general rules and guidelines that all businesses are expected to comply with regarding road way, footpaths, public areas and pedestrianised areas.

Council officers have developed a proposal that would license individual properties to advertise or trade on the highway while at the same time maintaining a 'safe route' for highway users.

If this scheme is approved then each business will be required to enter into an individual agreement with the council.

This will include an agreement about what may be placed, plus a plan showing the extent of the public highway that the business is licensed to use. There will be a charge to businesses that are awarded licenses although no decisions have been taken yet on what the charge might be.

Based upon research into charges raised by other local authorities that run similar schemes, officers are likely to recommend a one off charge for the initial application plus an annual charge for the license.

An 'A' board is likely to cost an initial £75 followed by £50 a year, while chairs, tables etc will be charged by the square metre. Benches or trees planted in memoriam will be licensed for a one-off charge of £75.

Policies already exist that control the display of banners and notices on the highway.

Changes to the policies are being proposed largely to control the growing practice of businesses advertising events using banners that conform to the policy because a donation is being made to charity – such as an advert for a cider festival with donations to a charity.

This is being used increasingly to promote a profit-making event but the 'charitable' element means the advert complies with current policy.

The council is proposing that only registered charities or charitable events sanctioned by the relevant community or town council will be able to display banners on the public highway.

A new initiative being proposed is the availability of display boards, signs etc. on the public highway and in public places where businesses may be offered advertising opportunities.

The sites likely to be included within MCC control are roundabouts, verges on roads leading in to towns and villages, alongside car park ticket machines and areas close to tourist attractions. The plans are currently out for consultation. Send your comments to Roger Hoggins at [email protected]">[email protected] by Monday 24th February.