Banners across the highway (PS 8/2)
Purpose of policy
Banners, Cables, Decorative Lighting or Bunting Across the Highway - Highways Act 1980, Section 178
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) recognises the vital role played by the local highway network. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that highway users are not distracted by a multiplicity of signs or endangered by inadequate clearance or fixing of banners, decorative lighting and bunting across the highway by setting out the conditions for authorisation of these items.
In carrying out this policy ESCC will meet its statutory obligations and will also support the Council’s Priorities, Local Transport Plan and Highway Service Outcomes.
Policy statement
The Traffic Manager shall be authorised to licence the installation of banners, cables, decorative lighting or bunting (BCDLB) across the highway subject to the following conditions.
a) East Sussex County Council must be indemnified up to the value of £10 million by the licensee from and against all actions and claims arising from the installation, removal and whilst in situ of the banner, cables, decorative lighting or bunting.
b) The minimum height (5.1 metres over carriageway and 2.4 metres over the footway) of the banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting and its anchorage shall be determined by a technical expert following a risk assessment prior to the installation of the licenced item.
c) Prior to the installation of the banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting the details of the location, size, content, layout, construction, material and suspension details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Traffic Manager on the provision that it conforms to current guidelines and has approval by a technical expert. The banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting shall thereafter only be installed in accordance with the approved details and terms and conditions of the licence.
d) The banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting shall not be installed more than one week before the event and shall be removed immediately afterwards, unless agreed otherwise by the Traffic Manager for seasonal events.
e) Structural testing may be required in order to determine whether it will safely carry the imposed loads. This will be at the cost of the organisation requesting the licenced item although it may be arranged through the County Council.
f) The banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting shall not contain any advertising matter other than a direct reference to the event and no lettering shall be less than 150 millimetres (6 inches) in height. The licenced item shall not contain any directional symbols.
g) The banner, cable, decorative lighting or bunting shall only be for a local event.
h) Any items which have not been approved by the Traffic Manager or do not conform to the above conditions or the terms and conditions of the licence may be removed by East Sussex County Council and the cost may be recovered from the event organiser.
Supporting information
Highways Act 1980, Section 178
Version control
- Highways and Transportation Committee – agenda item 3, 22 March 1974
- Highways and Transportation Committee – agenda item 8, 30 March 1976
- Lead Member for Transport & Environment – agenda item 5, 16 October 2017
Date of last review
November 2024