Residents, businesses and visitors to Worcester are being asked for their views on the rules that allow cafes, bars and restaurants to put out tables and chairs so that people can eat and drink outside.
The rules were temporarily changed in 2020 during the Covid pandemic to make it easier for hospitality businesses to put tables and chairs outside their premises on public land, such as the pavement in High Street. Many cafes, bars and restaurants in Worcester took advantage of the temporary rules to serve more customers outdoors.
Now the Government has changed the law to make the new rules permanent. Worcester City Council is responsible for issuing ‘pavement licences’ in the city and has published a new draft policy on how applications will be assessed and processed. It has launched a public consultation so that people can give their views on the draft policy.
Take part in the consultation here until Wednesday 9 October.
Councillor Hannah Cooper, Vice Chair of the City Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee said: “Many Worcester businesses have benefitted from the new pavement licensing rules and I know people have enjoyed being able to have a cup of tea and a slice of cake outside in the bustling High Street or elsewhere in the city.
“On the other hand, we know that some people, such as wheelchair users and those with a visual impairment, may have challenges navigating around tables and chairs that have not been positioned in a considerate and sensitive manner.
“This consultation is about whether we’ve got the right rules in place for how we process pavement licensing applications, so I would encourage anyone who has a view on this to have their say at www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit.”
Printed copies of the consultation are available on request from the Guildhall in High Street or by calling 01905 722233.
