Scaffolding is erected to provide safe conditions for people working in construction.
When the scaffolding structure is over or next to a public highway, precautions must be taken to guarantee the safety of pedestrians and traffic.
We'll only issue a licence if you agree to this policy.
We'll inspect the site to check you've met the following conditions:
Scaffolding and hoarding conditions
The following conditions must be met:
- you must have public liability insurance (not employer’s liability insurance) for a minimum cover of £5 million
- the scaffold is to be erected in such manner as to form the least obstruction vertically with the minimum headroom of 2.1 metres and a minimum of 300mm from the kerb line
- all scaffolding/hoarding placed on the public highway must have a licence. It's the responsibility of the company providing scaffolding/hoarding to contact us requesting permission to place it on the highway
- a licence will not be issued to a member of the public
- a licence is required to ensure scaffolding is not placed so as to block access to property or apparatus within the highway, reduce highway widths to an unacceptable extent or to restrict visibility at junctions, access and crossing points. If any of these are affected during the erection of the scaffold/hoarding the highway authority must be contacted and a site visit arranged to discuss the situation. However, this must be done prior to the erection of the scaffold/hoarding
- licences are also required for builder’s cabins and hoarding to be placed on any council owned land, including car parks, footways and the highway
- you must not erect scaffold or hoarding on the public highway without a licence from us. You must give at least 5 days’ notice when applying for a licence
- scaffold/hoarding must be clearly marked with the owners name, address and 24 hour emergency contact telephone number
- the fees for a standard scaffold/hoarding licence is 1 month advance payment of £113 and subsequently monthly payments of £60 (to be paid in advance)
- we must be informed when the scaffold/hoarding is removed
- if a licence is not obtained or there is a failure to comply with the conditions specified the offending company may be liable for prosecution
- any scaffold/hoarding (illegally placed or otherwise) deemed dangerous by the authority will be inspected, possibly removed and stored, and the relevant company informed and re-charged. Any scaffold/hoarding not complying with the above or on the highway without a licence will be deemed to be illegal. In such circumstances a fine for non-compliance of this policy will incur a fixed penalty notice of £500. The amount of the penalty will double if not paid within 28 days. However this cost could increase markedly depending on the size of structure that has to be removed. All reasonable costs incurred will be reclaimed by the council
- it should be noted that a failure to obtain a relevant and up to date licence will result in the scaffold/hoarding (if placed on the highway) being classed as illegal. In such circumstances this will result in your insurance cover being classed as null and void.
Responsibilities
- you must indemnify Medway Council against all claims, however caused, or arising from or attributable to, the erection of the scaffold/structure and other works to be carried out, you should ensure in respect of liability imposed by the conditions
- the scaffold/structure at all times must clearly display the owners name, address and 24 hour telephone number
- you must give the highways inspector adequate notice of your intention to commence your works
- a ‘right of way’ must be maintained for pedestrians on the length of footway affected and no building tools or materials should endanger or impede highway or footway user
- the whole structure must be protected by danger lamps throughout the hours of darkness
- you will, of course, be required to dismantle and remove the scaffold/structure as soon as is practicable and to reinstate the footway if damaged, to the complete satisfaction of the NRASWA inspector.