WOLVO’S LEAFLET LICENCE EXPLAINED

28-01-2008

Wolverhampton Council has denied failing to consult nightclub promoters over its new "leaflet licence" – and says the aim is reduce litter.

On Saturday, we reported that Steve Harrington who runs the city’s weekly Club Hell events (http://www.myspace.com/yourclubhell) was unaware that since November, anyone handing out flyers inside the central ring road has had to shell out £250 for a permit (see link here).

Failure to comply could land you with a fine of up to £2,500.

We checked with another leading promoter in Wolverhampton who was also unaware of this local bye-law, but the local authority insists that “a public notice…was displayed in a number of locations in the city centre and placed in the local media.”

A spokeswoman added, “those distributing free printed matter have to clean up any of the hand-outs dropped by the public within 50 metres of where they have been distributed.

“The objective is to introduce appropriate and proportionate controls over who and how such material is distributed so that this activity does not generate litter.”

Harrington argues that it’s another assault on small, local businesses which will backfire at a time when, he argues, the city centre is “dying on its arse.”

Is Wolvo dying on it’s arse? And would other parts of the West Midlands benefit from a “leaflet licence?” Leave a comment on The Stirrer Forum.