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(Appendix 1) Part 2 - LICENCE CONDITIONS FOR ERECTION OF
AMENITY DISPLAYS ON ROAD FURNITURE
(Not To Be Returned with Application – To Be Retained By Proposers)
For safety reasons North Ayrshire Council would prefer that Amenity attachments are designed in the first instance to be attached to fixed solid structures such as buildings, rather than free-standing structures which have not specifically been designed to withstand the additional loads imposed by weight and windage.
However, where this is not practicable or where the street furniture has already been designed, manufactured and installed to support the additional loading, North Ayrshire Council will not object to the fixing of Amenity Displays on street furniture such as lighting columns, subject to the licence being granted by the Head of Commercial Services. The licence will be granted under the following conditions:
a) All works associated with the provision of amenity displays shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the County Surveyors’ Society, (CSS) Code of Practice for the Installation and Operation of Seasonal Decorations on or Above the Public Highway (Second Edition), as revised and re-issued in 2005 or any subsequent amendment thereto and in force at the time of application.
b) Bodies wishing to erect attachments on road lighting units must submit an application form to the Head of Commercial Services as early as possible but in any case giving at least two months notice from the date of the proposed erection and no more than 6 months, giving the following details: -
i) name of Applicant [Promoter],
ii) location plan clearly identifying preferred lighting unit locations,
iii) copy of the Insurance Certificate indicating minimum insurance requirements have been met,
iv) name of Contractor/Installer [Operator],
v) full electrical, weighting and dimension specification of proposed attachments,
vi) Responsible Person and out-of-hours contact details,
vii) copy of written energy agreement with Distribution Network Operator [DNO],
viii) the exact date of installation and the date for removal.
c) Approval will NOT be given to the attachment of amenity displays to the following: -
i) Concrete, cast iron, aluminium or glass fibre reinforced plastic lighting columns,
ii) Street Furniture which is not positioned to the rear kerb of the footway,
iii) Traffic signs,
iv) Traffic signals,
v) Any location which will conflict with or obscure any adjacent traffic signal systems or signs,
vi) Electrical control pillars,
vii) Any road subject to a speed restriction greater than 30mph,
viii) Any street furniture in central reservations and pedestrian refuge islands,
ix) Banners or catenary wires erected between two street lighting columns unless the structure has been designed, manufactured, certified and installed for that purpose.
d) All future proposals for the erection of amenity attachments should consider an additional costing estimate that allows for full infrastructure replacement to ensure that installations are structurally and electrically safe for the purpose. These costs will be borne by the Promoter or Operator.
Where it is not financially possible for the Promoter or Operator to fund such replacement and existing street furniture plant is to be used, the Head of Commercial Services will ensure that the plant is suitable for the proposed purpose and advise the applicant accordingly. This will be determined by structural and electrical inspections arranged by the Head of Commercial Services after receipt of application with costs recharged to the applicant.
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In existing plant not specifically designed and manufactured for the purpose, the inspections MUST be carried out in each year for which an application is made, regardless of alterations to the display.
Infrastructure that has been specifically manufactured and certified for the purpose shall be structurally and electrically inspected every five years to ensure that the plant remains safe and fit for purpose.
e) The structural inspection method used shall be Non-destructive stability and load testing by specialised inspection companies. The Council cannot guarantee the programming requirements of external inspection companies and so applications must be made as early as possible. The council will not be responsible for late applications or inspections that cannot be timeously completed in advance of a proposed installation date.
f) All attachments must be fixed to the furniture in a manner approved by the Head of Commercial Services. Attachment of displays shall NOT be by drilling of column shafts or brackets as this significantly reduces the structural integrity and lifespan of the support structures.
g) The Head of Commercial Services will advise the applicant of any electrical requirements. The cost of any alteration to the existing lighting infrastructure will be borne by the applicant. Should provision of electrical connection housing require drilling of existing support structures this may be carried out in bracket supports only.
h) It will be the responsibility of the applicant to appoint a Contractor to carry out the necessary attachment works, final electrical connection and energising of amenity displays.
i) Any costs being recharged will be agreed in advance with the applicant.
j) Christmas lighting is an important and well-established way of making the Council’s town centres attractive to customers and therefore competitive over the Christmas period. North Ayrshire Council supports the improvement and enhancement of local town centres through the use of Christmas lighting and other decorative features in an environmentally sustainable manner proportionate to the scale of the location. As such the Council shall where practicable support any reasonable application for any displays in such locations.
k) Displays must not incorporate any commercial advertising nor be offensive in nature.
l) Ladders are not to be placed against column shafts, for erection or removal of attachments. Any ladders used must be free standing and stable or a mobile hoist or mini platform is to be used.
m) The mounting height of attachments must not be less than 2.5 metres above ground level over a verge or footway and 5.8 metres over the road or shared surface carriageway. For Designated Abnormal High Load Routes this figure rises to minimum 7.5 metres above carriageway.
n) Generally, only one attachment per lighting unit will be permitted. In exceptional circumstances this may be increased at the discretion of the Head of Commercial Services in writing, subject to structural and electrical inspection.
o) Permission is grated on the understanding that those concerned agree to indemnify North Ayrshire Council against any third party claim arising from the attachments (in the minimum sum of £1M) and arrange to pay electricity costs by direct arrangement with the DNO.
p) All attachments must be removed at the date agreed in the initial application.
q) NAC Roads will remove attachments remaining after this time and the cost of removal will be rechargeable to the party concerned.
r) When the Head of Commercial Services is satisfied that the applicant fully understands the foregoing and accepts the restrictions imposed and further, accepts all costs in writing, he will issue a licence for same. The licence will require to be renewed annually.