Advertising and displays

Our policy for the erection of festive decorations, banners and flower baskets on the highway, highway furniture or highway equipment is:

• Details of all advertising and locations must be validated by the council to ensure that only appropriate material is being displayed
• Technical and structural details of all proposals must be approved by the Head of Highways and Parking Services by written agreement before the fixtures are put up
• Displays will be licensed for a specified period. The agreement will need to be renewed annually for festive displays
• All work will be the responsibility of the body promoting the display, which must show that it has public liability insurance to indemnify the council with a minimum of £5 million cover for any one incident or as specified in the agreement
• The features will be removed immediately upon request by the council, or will be removed by Medway Council's Highway Services at the promoter's expense if there is concern about safety or security
• The erection of displays or banners above the carriageway (crossing the road) will only be permitted in pedestrian-dominated streets
• Banners or displays attached to pedestrian railings will need special consideration
• No spans are to be fixed to lighting columns unless the columns have been specifically designed to carry the load or it is shown by calculation that the columns can carry the additional load and:

  - the minimum height above vehicular access is 16 feet 5 inches (5m)

  - the minimum height above non vehicular access is 8 feet 2 inches(2.5m)
• Displays must not be fitted unless the site, structure or column has been approved by a qualified engineer (this includes mounting bolts on the face of buildings)
• Any attachments must not hinder the normal maintenance of any highway fixture
• All fixings used to secure the attachments to council equipment must be free from corrosion and must be removed at the end of the agreement period. Any damage to council equipment must be made good at the promoter's expense and immediately after the removal of the apparatus
• Drilling into council equipment is not permitted unless all alternatives have been investigated. The express permission of the Head of Highway and Parking Services is required. The promoter will be responsible for the full cost of repairing or replacing any damaged highway equipment
• All text on displays and banners must be of a sufficient size and clarity to ensure drivers can focus on the task of driving rather than trying to read the advertising
• Only banners/displays for organisations that are registered charities, working in partnership with Medway Council, or are sponsored by a Council department will be permitted to be erected.