Date published: 2024-09-03 | Category: Business support , Delivering for local residents, Equalities, Focusing on prevention, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage, public safety, Streets and Highway Maintenance
A new streets strategy to manage outdoor dining, trading and entertainment on Bath and North East Somerset’s highways and public spaces is being proposed by the council.
The B&NES Streets Strategy aims to ensure a co-ordinated approach to managing the range of vibrant activities that take place in Bath and North East Somerset’s public spaces, whilst maintaining accessibility for all and supporting the local economy.
A report going before the council’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel on September 12 details how the strategy would act as an overarching document informing council policy on what non-removable items can be placed on the highway – including planters, large umbrellas and flower displays – as well as permissions for street trading, street entertainment, events and filming.
The aim of the B&NES Streets Strategy is to support outdoor trading and events, for example restaurants which offer outdoor hospitality or farmers’ markets, while ensuring that streets remain safe and accessible for highway users.
It would also allow the council to fulfil its statutory duties of highways inspections and street cleansing without impediment.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “A Streets Strategy will ensure a coordinated approach is taken to the management of our retail areas, events and activities which take place to support the economic vibrancy and animation of our public spaces. The strategy will be underpinned by the Accessibility Study for Bath city centre, however those principles will apply across the whole authority area and be at the forefront of our decision making.
“With 47 street traders across the district and up to 100 events per year - including up to 80 film productions and large-scale events like the Bath Half Marathon - we need to ensure consistency when issuing licences and permits. It is also our statutory duty to ensure that the highway can be inspected, cleaned and maintained for residents without any obstruction from items on the pavement.”
Read the Bath & North East Somerset Council Streets Strategy report going before the scrutiny panel on September 12. Follow this link for the meeting agenda reports pack.
More information on applying for pavement, entertainment, street trading and other licences can be found on the council website.
ENDS