Appendix 3 – PKC Guidelines for A-Boards and Other Advertising Structures on Footpaths
Perth and Kinross Council · 27 August 2025
Back to Economy and Infrastructure Committee — 27 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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If you or someone you know would like a copy of this document in another language or format, (on occasion, only a summary of the document will be provided in translation), this can be arranged by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 01738 475000. You can also send us a text message on 07824 498145. All Council Services can offer a telephone translation facility. www.pkc.gov.uk (PKC Design Team - 2017747) Guidelines for A-Boards and other advertising structures on footpaths. Keep Clear and Remove Obstacles! A-Boards are used as promotion by businesses throughout the Council area. Over the years the number and size of A-Boards used by businesses on footpaths and pavements has increased, and this growth has been brought to the Council’s attention by local communities. We recognise that they are an important way for businesses to communicate with shoppers and visitors. However they, and similar structures, can cause access problems for pedestrians, particularly people who have a visual impairment, wheelchair users and people with pushchairs. A-Boards can also affect road safety and visibility if inappropriately used. It is important therefore that the number, size and positioning of A-Boards is controlled so they do not cause difficulty for pedestrians. We want to work with businesses and local communities to achieve a sensible and practical approach to their use. In introducing these guidelines, we expect to improve access for pedestrians by reducing the number of areas where the amount of A-Boards has an adverse impact on free movement for both able-bodied people and those with a disability. This scheme has the support of the Centre for Inclusive Living Perth & Kinross (CILPK). Both the Council and CILPK will be pleased to discuss with businesses any proposals for A-Boards or provide advice/clarification on suitable locations: Centre for Inclusive Living Perth & Kinross 90 Tay Street, PERTH, PH2 8NP Email info@cilpk.org.uk Perth & Kinross Council Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, PERTH, PH1 5GD Tel 01738 475000 Details correct at time of going to press March 2018. These guidelines may be modified at any time by Perth & Kinross Council.
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• No sign shall be placed on a street corner and/or obstruct driver/pedestrian visibility or access to buses etc. • Each sign must be removed outwith trading hours. • Anyone who places a sign on the public footway should also be aware that any liability arising from an accident involving an A-Board remains with the board’s owner. It is not only A-boards that are an issue - there are also other display items which are inconsistently placed, along with waste containers. 8 Why do we need these guidelines? 8 84 Under Section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, it is an offence to place or deposit anything in a road (including the footpath/pavement), so as to cause an obstruction, except with the Roads Authority’s written consent. As a Council we do not wish to impose a blanket ban on the use of A-Boards, in recognition of the importance of promotion for local businesses. However, due to their excessive use, it has now become necessary to issue the following guidelines for acceptable placement of advertising signs: • The sign consists of a simple A-Board of modest size (maximum dimensions 1.0m by 0.5m). • The sign must be located within the frontage of the premises to which it relates, with one edge of the frame against that frontage (except in the pedestrianised zone of Perth City Centre, where it should be located in line with existing permanent street furniture). • There must only be one sign per premises, located in a regular position. • No part of the sign shall be closer than 1.2 metres to the kerb or other piece of street furniture, and shall not be physically attached to any piece of street furniture. The temporary and mobile nature of these boards means that blind and partially sighted people cannot learn where they are, so struggle to avoid walking into them. It is the Council’s intention to enforce these guidelines with immediate effect. We would welcome your full co-operation, in the interests of public safety and physical amenity. Failure to comply with the above guidelines or with any reasonable request from a Council officer regarding a sign will result in it being uplifted, and it will not be returned.