Ban on fliers in city is no laughing matter
A city centre ban on fliers could hit Leicester's comedy festival as it celebrates its 16th birthday this year.
City council officials said venues should be stopped from handing out leaflets promoting this year's events because of the environmental problems it would cause on Leicester's streets.
A senior councillor told the Leicester Mercury he hoped a compromise could be found before the 2009 Leicester Comedy Festival begins on February 6.
The event involves 65 pubs, clubs and other venues across the city.
Council bosses brought in a ban last autumn to stop city nightclubs, pubs and entertainment venues littering the streets with fliers.
Only religious groups, political parties and charities are exempt from restrictions in a "no-leaflet zone" which runs inside the inner ring road, plus areas around De Montfort University, Leicester University and in Belgrave Gate and Belgrave Road.
Anyone wanting to hand out free literature has to apply to the council and, if accepted, pay for a licence. Organisers of the Comedy Festival, said they would struggle to pay the fee.
Geoff Rowe, the boss of the festival, wants the council to waive these restrictions because venues could lose money and fail to attract revellers. He said, while he applauded the green stance, they and other festivals should be treated differently.
He said: "Our partners need to work to attract audiences in what is a busy marketplace during Leicester Comedy Festival.
"Most of our promoters will be in Leicester for a couple of days each and target distribution at individuals a few hours before events.
"There is no evidence to suggest that, during past Leicester Comedy Festivals, there has been an increase in litter.
"The festival atmosphere is vital to the continued success and well-being of Leicester Comedy Festival.
"Visitors to the event tell us the festival atmosphere is a crucial factor in making a decision to attend and performers also tell us of its importance."
A decision on whether to grant the application to hand out leaflets will be made by councillors on Tuesday, January 13.
A report by council officers said it should be "refused in accordance with the city council's policy".
However, the city's cabinet member for culture, Councillor Andy Connelly, said he was disappointed that officers had taken such a view.
He said: "I hope something can be done here that will satisfy both parties.
"The policy was never brought in to stop festivals, and I am disappointed that the officers have taken this stance. They have been too rigid in their implementation of this policy."
4 Comments
by chris baxter, leicester
Friday, January 09 2009, 11:29AM
“Fliers are always part of the festival atmopshere, and a great way of getting information out there. There are no restrictions of Metro News being handed out on every street corner are there?”
by DAvid Morgan, Leicester
Friday, January 09 2009, 9:53AM
“this is ridiculous, of course you should worry about litter but equally I worry about the amount of religious preachers , can they be licensed, there a far to many.
Leicester should be extremely proud of it's Comedy Festival and if people don't know about the shows, they won't come and then there will be no festival except for in the large venues that get column inches in the mercury for opening a coffee shop.
Support the new, obscure and local acts Leicester Council, when one becomes big you'll be the first to crow about them being seen first in our city.”
by Dafydd, Leiceter
Thursday, January 08 2009, 1:40PM
“This is a bit like the 50 yard cycle lanes that crop up around the city - a pointless gesture that only ever made sense at some committee meeting or other. Presumably a BNP activist could print and hand out thousand of leaflets during this period, just providing he doesn't tell any jokes?”
by Bridget Cattell, Leicester
Thursday, January 08 2009, 12:16PM
“I appreciate the dislike of litter on the streets but agree that discretion should be used in restricting giving out fliers and promotional material. Festival goers like to know what's on and when they freely accept a flier they are unlikely to throw it away immediately which is what the council dislikes.
We can all understand that waste is not acceptable but it's part of the atmosphere to have people trying to promote shows during the festival. I agree that the licence fee should be discretionary. Some shows have small audiences so the potential ticket income is comparatively low. It would be hard for these promoters to pay a licence fee. Notification may be desirable but unless it can be proved that extra litter is caused during the 10 day festival I suggest the licence fee is waived for ths and other similar cultural events which give Leicester a place on the cultural map.”