A BLITZ on street clutter is to be extended across the city centre after a pilot scheme in the Old Town was hailed a success.

Hundreds of shops were targeted during a crackdown around the Royal Mile aimed at getting rid of signs that are larger than the regulation one metre tall and 0.75 metres wide.

City leaders said their blitz had helped to improve the appearance of the historic streets.

And now they want to extend this "decluttering" campaign to other parts of the city.

The first area to be targeted will be the West End and Haymarket next month, while shops in Tollcross will be visited in early summer.

The Old Town will be checked again just before the Festival starts, and officials hope to take their blitz to the New Town before the end of the year.

Environmental wardens will be authorised to remove any obstructive boards if the owners refuse to take them off the pavement.

The move comes on the day shopkeeper Joe Hussain faces having his fruit and veg display moved from outside his West End Store on Melville Place by police, in a separate council bid to clear street clutter ahead of the tram work diversions.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "In October 2007, a highly successful enforcement campaign concerning advertising boards was carried out in the Old Town.

"The majority of traders act in a responsible manner to keep the footways clear of any potential obstructions to pedestrians. This initiative has been set up to remind the irresponsible minority who obstruct footpaths that we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action.

"The council is committed to maintaining safe footpaths."

He added: "The guidelines surrounding advertising boards are in place to ensure the safety and unobstructed movement of all pedestrians using the city's pavements and footpaths."

The Royal Mile enforcement week in November last year came after officials had issued 288 "final" warnings to shops, reminding them of the guidelines on street furniture. During the blitz, seven items were repositioned and 20 were taken down voluntarily by shop owners.

Other items such as oversize street furniture, clothing rails and promotional models were also removed during the crackdown.

City centre Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat said: "The crackdown around the Royal Mile was very much resident-led because people who live around there were getting fed up with the obstacles in their way.

"This proliferation of A-boards had to be brought under control and I think if the rules are there they must be adhered to. From the shop owners' point of view, they will be pleased that the same rules will apply across the city."

The extended crackdown was agreed at a meeting of the city centre neighbourhood partnership. City leaders previously warned that legal action might be taken against firms which continued to flout the regulations.

THE A–Z OF RULES GOVERNING ADVERTS
THE A-board rules traders must adhere to:

• Only one A-board per premises.
• Boards should not exceed one metre in height and 0.75 metres in width.
• The A-board must be placed directly in front of the business, except on closes off the Royal Mile, who are permitted to put them opposite the entrance to the close.
• A-boards should be placed on the footway adjacent to the kerb and set back 0.45 metres from the kerb.
• Alternatively, they can be placed at the back of the footway but at least 1.4 metres of footway must remain clear for pedestrians.
• If the premises contain an outside table and chairs area, the A-board must be contained within that space.
• They should be kept clear of service ducts and access chambers.
• They must be free-standing and not attached to street furniture.
• They must not be placed on the footway in darkness or in inclement weather.

Current A-Board Best Practice Guidelines

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