Campaigners call for relaxation of council rules on flyers (From The Argus)
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Campaigners call for relaxation of council rules on flyers
3:30pm Monday 4th July 2011 in News
Campaigners are calling for rules on leafleting to be relaxed.
Protest group Manifesto Club has set up a petition calling for Brighton and Hove City Council to soften the regulations stopping unlicensed leafleters from handing out flyers.
A bylaw was introduced in 2008 to combat problems of littering around Churchill Square, North Laine and the Lanes.
Now, any company that wants to hand out leaflets in the area must apply for a £200 licence.
Each additional leafleter must have a £25 badge.
The rules also mean anyone without a licence can be fined hundreds of pounds.
Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club, said that the rules were having a “phenomenal effect” on the city’s music scene.
She said the blame for littering was being unfairly placed on people handing out leaflets.
She said: “They shouldn’t be prosecuted for littering, the person who litters should be – they have committed the crime.
“More litter bins, common consent and personal responsibility are the true alternatives.”
The council said the aim of the bylaw was to ensure leafleters acted responsibly.
Pete West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “There is no doubt that since the rules and regulations around the distribution of leaflets and flyers were introduced, the amount of litter dropped in the city centre has reduced dramatically.
“This was particularly evident during the recent Brighton Festival when the potential for extra litter is huge.
“The scheme has been popular with residents and visitors who do not want to be handed dozens of leaflets during their visit to the city and we have a good working relationship with distributors, promoters and the major venues in the city.”
However some businesses are struggling under the rules.
Will Power, who runs a small marketing company in Brighton, said: “We have laid off five of our part-time staff as a direct result of this law and I know other venues and businesses have done the same.”
Brendan Fernandes, the owner of the Healthy Supplies health food company, said: “The system is bad for anyone wanting to publicise anything, and rather than tackling the problem, it’s just a way of getting revenue from people.”
The petition will be presented at a council meeting later this month.
Comments(12)
pperrin
says...
3:43pm Mon 4 Jul 11
Leafleteers mustn't be pushy or aggressive, and there needs to be adequate rubbish bins around.
But outside of that, let them go and let the public know what is going on.
gjones
says...
3:53pm Mon 4 Jul 11
NickBrt
says...
4:19pm Mon 4 Jul 11
gjones
says...
4:27pm Mon 4 Jul 11
Brighton_Belle
says...
4:35pm Mon 4 Jul 11
If people read then drop them then why not just put posters up or advertise events in different ways, rather than creating leaflets which just end up getting dumped...
Personally I always avoid the leafleters!
TheInsider
says...
8:59pm Mon 4 Jul 11
Not once at the end of their 'flier' shift, did any of them walk up the street picking up the discarded fliers.
It was a disgrace.
If it were MacDondalds or another business doing this, it would be made to employ sweepers.
WakeUpYouFreaks!
says...
10:35pm Mon 4 Jul 11
TheInsider wrote:Nothing has really changed... there are generally five or six people handing out flyers at this junction on a Saturday - none of whom are wearing any form of badge. I occasionally promote gigs in Brighton and i do not feel the need to try and target potential gig-goers by trying to shove a flyer into their hand on the day of the event. It doesn't actually work! There are so many better ways to get somebody to attend an event/ club night nowadays... especially with the use of social networking sites. If i did choose to flyer for an event i would most likely target people leaving an event similar to the one that i happened to be promoting... not just randoms trying to do their shopping.
When the leafleters used to hand them out in North Street at the junction of Bond Street, the place was an absolute tip.
Not once at the end of their 'flier' shift, did any of them walk up the street picking up the discarded fliers.
It was a disgrace.
If it were MacDondalds or another business doing this, it would be made to employ sweepers.
That said, the Fringe Festival poster points outside Strada are a great idea and perhaps we could do with some year-round spaces like these for everyone to use - not just for SWAT and those who pay for space. This might also discourage some of drum and bass kids from sliding lines of posters over the tops of doors and windows in empty premises around town as well... but i doubt it.
Helena Hancart
says...
11:50pm Mon 4 Jul 11
Helena Hancart
says...
11:50pm Mon 4 Jul 11
Surely not!
says...
9:19am Tue 5 Jul 11
Helena Hancart wrote:It wasn't funny the first time.
I have printed 5000 in support of keeping them banned and will distribute them this week.
Budgie Smuggler
says...
7:24pm Tue 5 Jul 11
Surely not! wrote:I laughed on both occasions I read it! However, not at your comment!
Helena Hancart wrote:It wasn't funny the first time.
I have printed 5000 in support of keeping them banned and will distribute them this week.
Hove Actually says...
3:37pm Mon 4 Jul 11
So it works for most of us....Job done, move on, next