Information from Northumberland County Council
Pubs, cafes and restaurants wanting to move their chairs and tables outside can now apply to Northumberland County Council for permission through a special fast-track system.
A pavement licence will allow some businesses to place removable furniture over parts of the pavement next to their premises to serve food and drink, after the Government passed new legislation to speed up the process.
The new fast track system is fully digital with all applications and any representations having to be made on-line via a portal accessed from the Council’s web page.
With the new legislation, all applicants have to display a public notice outside their premises advising the public and neighbouring properties they have applied for a pavement licence and how to find out more information or make representations about the application.
It’s important applicants must make sure their proposals consider the safety and access needs of others, particularly wheelchair users, young parents with pushchairs and those with low vision.
Anyone wishing to make representations to the Council about the application will have only seven days to do so, and once the seven day consultation period ends the Council only has a further seven days to either approve or reject the application.
More information on this scheme, including how to apply, can be found on Northumberland County Council’s website.