Agenda item - Evidence Gathering - Paula Murray - Head of Culture and Economy (Brighton & Hove City Council)

16.1    Paula Murray, Head of Culture and Economy at the Council was unable to attend but had submitted a written statement which was read out on her behalf.

“This issue divides opinion amongst traders, urban designers, policy officers etc

Similar to some of your earlier witnesses, we have been unable to locate any solid independent evidence on economic impact of A Boards on the success of businesses.

Most businesses, however, will assert that the use of A Boards does have a positive impact on their business and clearly in this difficult time of recession, we want to do all that we can to support our local businesses success.

You have some speakers on your agenda today who will be able to talk to this perhaps with some local evidence

In the case of small scale independent retailers, there is a case to be made for an A Board advertising what exactly the retailer has on offer – everyone recognises the brand of Boots for example and knows what is in there for sale – but the same cannot always be said for the smaller independent local unique retailers, and their role is crucial for the city’s economy and reputation and we do want customers to know they are there and support them.

I think there is also research that shows that restaurant offers (often advertised on A Boards) do play a major role in bringing people in off the street. 

On the other hand, in terms of business success - there is also an argument to be made for a clear, clean streetscape and its attractiveness to customers as well as the accessibility issues which this panel is set up to investigate.

More space for pedestrians on our pavements is desirable and would encourage greater usage and footfall.  Our Legibility Strategy: Public Space Public Life advocates some good principles of urban design particularly in terms of decluttering public spaces.

However – whilst clutter free is good, you are going to have instances where you absolutely need a bollard or bin or seating for less mobile/older people for example.

I think that what would be difficult would be to establish a “one size fits all” piece of guidance to street design.  What people should perhaps do is judge each site on its merit. We have a draft new Street Design Guidance manual which advocates assessing the street and how it operates in each individual case.

An additional suggestion from colleagues in Environment as to what to do in places where you wanted to preserve ‘café culture’ – would be to work via licensing and request comments from an Access Officer for any licensing application and look at the impact on the street in addition and not just at the application in isolation. 

I would suggest that the Panel might wish to invite someone from the Environment Directorate to talk to the draft Street Design Guidance manual which is in development and the Public Space: Public Life study if they have not done so already.

We will continue to look out for any independent research in this area for the panel as it concludes its enquiry.”