Ashfield Council wants your views on new outdoor dining and street trading policy

by StreetCorner
22/07/2010

"Outdoor dining and street vending areas, as a form of activity on the street, can make a significant contribution to the quality of public places and urban life. They can provide a space that is alive and continuously changing. They offer the opportunity to withdraw from hurly burly of the street and watch the world go by. They are natural locations to arrange to meet people and bump into old friends." Ashfield Council

Ashfield Council's new draft policy on the business use of public footpaths is designed to provide guidance and encourage the establishment of business activities on public footpath, wherever feasible and appropriate throughout the Municipality of Ashfield.

Council says the policy aims to:

• To permit limited business use of public footpath for street trading purposes, directly outside suitable businesses, throughout Ashfield Local Government area, to help retailers with promotion of their businesses in an ever increasing competitive field.

• To minimise disruption to neighbouring businesses and surrounding environment by regulating and monitoring approved business activities on public footpath.

• To ensure suitable pedestrian thoroughfare zone is available along the footpath for all road users.

• To improve the amenity and character of Business Districts throughout the Ashfield Local Government Area.

There are three main licence agreements, and one non-licence approval for various activities associated with this policy -

• Outdoor Dining Licence

• Street Trading Licence

• Approval to Place Removable

Beautification/Decorative Items on Public Footpath

• Temporary Business Use of Public Footpath Approval (Maximum 24 hours)

Public Liability Insurance and Workers Compensation Insurance regulations are included in the document and the policy has twenty four general requirement sections -

• Street Character

• Hours of Operation

• Outdoor Furniture and Street Character (General Appearance)

• Suitable Outdoor Dining and Street Trading Licence Areas

• Length of Outdoor Dining or Street Trading Area on Public Footpath

• Provision for Disabled

• Tables and Chairs

• Display Racks and Stands

• Removable Structures

• Barriers (Fixed and Removable)

• Health Requirements

• Heating

• Street Trading

• Lighting

• Noise

• Public Assets

• Road Works

• Smoking

• Serving of Alcohol

• Marking of Pavement

• Toilet facilities

• Advertising and Signage

• Environmental Issues

• Maintenance and Cleaning

The draft policy is on exhibition at the following locations until Wednesday 11 August 2010.

A copy is available at

Ashfield Council Customer Service Centre - Administration Building - 260 Liverpool Road Ashfield (next to Ashfield Mall entrance) 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

Ashfield and Haberfield Library during normal library opening hours.

Ashfield Council’s web site www.ashfield.nsw.gov.au – visit “Have my say” / “Public Exhibitions”

Council will carefully consider all feedback received before deciding whether to proceed further. For a hard copy to be mailed, please telephone 9716 1970. All submissions received will be publicly available. If you make a submission you will be notified when the matter is to be considered by Council. Written comments need to be with Ashfield Council by 18 August 2010.

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