Distributing free printed and promotional material
If you want to distribute free printed matter or promotional material in Cheltenham you may need a permit. The council has designated certain areas of the borough as areas where permission to distribute free printed matter or promotional material is required.
Designated areas
- Designated area 1 – Town centre and Montpellier
- Designated area 2 - Lansdown, College, All Saints, St. Pauls, Pittville and Prestbury
What is classed as printed matter or promotional material?
“Free printed matter” includes printed items such as free newspapers, leaflets, flyers, pamphlets, stickers and promotional supplements. It can also include other promotional printed matter such as scarves, sun glasses or caps.
What does free mean?
Printed matter is free if it is distributed without charge to the persons who receive it.
What does 'distribute' mean?
Distribute means to give free printed matter out, or offer to make it available, to members of the public. It includes placing it on, or affixing it to, vehicles but does not include putting it inside a building or letter-box. This will also apply to printed material distributed to the public from a vehicle or stand.
Exemptions
The following are exempt from licensing requirements:
- the distribution of printed matter by or on behalf of a charity within the meaning of the Charities Act 1993, where the printed matter relates to or is intended for the benefit of the charity;
- where the distribution is for political purposes or for the purposes of a religion or belief;
- a person who distributes the free printed matter by delivering it into a building or letter-box.
How to apply for a permit
- Complete the application form; and
- Pay the required fee (see below).
Please note: applications must be made no less than ten working days before the date you would like to start to distribute free printed matter.
The council may use the information provided for the prevention and detection of fraud. We also share this information for auditing purposes.
Fees
The fee for your application will be based on a points system, depending on a number of factors.
You can add up the points by answering the questions below and then look up the fee on the licensing fees page.
1. How many days per week do you want to distribute material?
| Number of days per week | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 day | 1 point |
| 2 days | 2 points |
| 3-4 days | 3 points |
| 5 days | 4 points |
| 6-7 days | 5 points |
2. Which area(s) do you intend to use? (see Designated Areas above)
| Area | Points |
|---|---|
| Area 1 only | 1 point |
| Area 2 only | 5 points |
| Both areas | 10 points |
3. On which days and at which times do you intend to distribute?
More than one box may apply
| Days and times | Points |
|---|---|
| Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00 (excluding Gold Cup Festival week) | 1 point |
| Mon-Sun 17:00 onwards (excluding Gold Cup Festival week) | 2 points |
| Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00 (including Gold Cup Festival week) | 5 points |
| Mon-Sun 17:00 onwards (including Gold Cup Festival week) | 5 points |
4. What are you promoting?
| What are you promoting? | Points |
|---|---|
| A single product, event or venue | 1 point |
| Multiple products, events or venues | 2 points |
5. How many distributors will you be using?
| Number of distributors | Points |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 1 point |
| 3-5 | 2 points |
| 5+ | 5 points |
Appeals
The council reserves the right to refuse to give consent to any applicant where we consider that the proposed distribution would likely lead to defacement of the designated land. Where this happens the applicant will be informed of the decision and the reasons for refusal. Examples of where this might occur is where an applicant has caused defacement on a previous occasion or where there is a distribution planned that is of such a scale and/or planned in such a way that the distributors are unable to meet the standard conditions.
The council also reserves the right to refuse to give consent if the applicant has been convicted of an offence of distributing free printed matter without consent within the last five years, or paid a fixed penalty notice relating to this offence in the last three years.
Refused applicants may appeal to the Magistrates' Court against the refusal.