Leafleting clean-up proposals

OLDHAM town centre is set to clean up its act in a move that could save the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

Plans to make the centre a flyer-free zone go before the council on Wednesday.

If approved, the ruling would mean that anyone handing out promotional leaflets must apply for permission and pay a fee as well as wearing a visible ID badge.

The proposed no flyer zone is bounded by Oldham Way to the south, King Street to the west and continues to the north along St Mary’s Way, Rock Street, Beever Street and Yorkshire Street down to Mumps.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “We’ve had many complaints from the public about masses of flyers being left strewn on streets and footpaths in the town centre.

“Not only are these leaflets unsightly but they are very hard for our mechanical street cleaners to pick up — especially when wet — and clearing up this mess costs taxpayers thousands of pounds a year.

“Under this scheme their leaflets must be offered to passers by — not forced into their hands. They also cannot be left unattended for the public to take at their discretion.

Remove

“Crucially, distributors must also ensure that they personally remove all their discarded matter from the zone when they have finished work. If they do not, they will initially get an £80 fixed penalty notice, but for persistent offenders we will not hesitate to withdraw their permission to leaflet in the zone.”

The council consulted with police, town centre managers, Pubwatch and members of the Business Improvement District in June to make sure the proposals were suited to everybody.

Daytime leafleting (9am to 6pm) would be restricted to four locations — Henshaw Street/Albion Street, at the steps on Market Place, the junction of Albion Street/Market Place and the junction of Albion Street/Curzon Street.

At night (8pm to 3am) businesses can apply to distribute at four sites — Pizza and Potato Factory, Northern Rock and Imperial City in Yorkshire Street and at the corner of Union Street/Bridge Street.

The new rules would not apply to leafleting for religious, charitable or political purposes.

No consent will be granted for the distribution of any material containing racist, sexist or offensive content.