Did you notice anything different about our old city today?
No neither did we.
York’s city centre A-board ban came in on Wednesday (February 1), not that you would notice.
As of today, City of York Council has outlawed all A-boards and related pavement signs within the inner ring road.
The only exception is Micklegate, although businesses still need a licence from the council in order to place an A-board in the street.
But take a brief stroll round the streets and you still encounter dozens of the boards as many businesses flouted the ban.
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The council decided to implement the A-board ban last August. It came into effect after a four-month transition period.
Brought in after increasing concern about the obstruction caused by proliferating boards, the policy bans all A-boards (and other advertising materials) on the public highway in the city centre for a year initially.
Many retailers and cafe owners were against the ban, saying it would damage their business. A number of alternatives to A-boards have been put forward, including a new city approved wall-mounted board.
Cllr Ian Gillies, executive member for transport and planning, said:
We also need to ensure support is provided to help find alternative methods of advertising and that all relevant bodies continue to be consulted throughout this time.