A citywide ban of on-street a boards has come into force in Edinburgh. It means that no A boards or other advertising structures, like flags or bicycles, can be used for advertising by licensees or any other businesses anywhere on the city’s streets.
The ban, approved by city councillors in May, aims to create safer, more accessible streets, particularly for those with disabilities such as sight impairment and mobility difficulties and follows a public consultation with stakeholders, including Living Streets, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Edinburgh Access Panel, along with traders’ associations, Business Improvement Districts and community councils.
Environmental wardens will be out on the streets and fines will be used after an initial warning to any licensee that flouts the rule. Any A boards on the street will be taken away and a storage charge made to the owner.
Commenting on the impact of the ban, Graeme Bremner, manager of Whiski Bar on High Street, said, “It’s difficult to measure, but I’m inclined to say that since phasing our a boards out, we haven’t seen any negative impact on the business, plus I haven’t heard any other licensee complain about the ban either.”
David Messaoud is manager at Devil’s Advocate on Advocate’s Close. He told DRAM, “The only real difference we have noticed is that certain customers are now less aware when they’re outside of what we’re doing inside, but this doesn’t seem to be deterring them to come inside and enquire.”
Another licensee who asked to remain nameless said that they were ‘very happy’ with the ban because it removes the blight of an adjacent restaurant’s a board that’s been effectively blocking the pub’s entrance for years.