Return of placards to promote carnivals
Placards will be used to promote carnivals across Walsall this summer following a six-year absence - after council chiefs agreed to relax fly-posting rules.
Placards will be used to promote carnivals across Walsall this summer following a six-year absence - after council chiefs agreed to relax fly-posting rules.
Organisers have been unable to widely promote events after a blanket ban was introduced in 2004 under a litter crackdown. But this year council chiefs have decided to relax their zero-tolerance policy and consider each application for adverts on its merits. The tough rules have been blamed in the past for poor attendance at some events.
Today organisers welcomed the U-turn. Ken Worley, chairman of the Bloxwich Carnival Committee, which takes place on August 7, said: "It is something we have been pushing for. It will help us tremendously to publicise the carnival."
Organisers wanting to put up placards in the days leading up to events must provide information to the Safety Advisory Group, which includes representatives from the council, police and fire service who assess public safety issues.
Talks have taken place with volunteers behind Pelsall Carnival over putting up promotion material in the next few days ahead of this weekend's event.
Dr Judith Sunley, head of public safety at Walsall Council, said: "We have agreed the criteria to allow certain community events to display posters.
"The new proposals will require event organisers to provide information to the Safety Advisory Group, which consists of council officers, police and fire service to request various locations where they would wish the placards to be posted. This would include providing the usual information we need to consider public safety issues.
"We have discussed proposals with organisers of Bloxwich carnival and hope to confirm with them suitable locations for the posting of placards very soon."
Organisers currently have to use the likes of park notice boards, shops, schools and community associations to advertise events.
The council introduced a campaign to tackle fly-tipping in April 2004, focusing on the swift removal of posters on public land. This included a litter hit squad being established to take away adverts promptly.
