Cheshire East Council is launching a revised system for licensing outdoor eating and drinking areas.
The authority is responding to the recent increase in popularity of alfresco seating and is keen to ensure all owners of such premises comply with standards set by the Council.
The new rules are intended to ensure alfresco areas are safe and accessible and do not obstruct pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with pushchairs.
The revised licensing policy covers all outdoor seating areas on the public pavement and will come into affect from July 1st , 2011.
Businesses will be able operate refreshment areas outside their premises providing they comply with the conditions of the policy and are successful in obtaining a licence.
Cheshire East Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: "We recognise the popularity of alfresco areas in Cheshire East and the vibrancy they add to our towns. We want to encourage the use of alfresco dining while reminding those who have such seating areas of the standards they are expected to meet.
"Ensuring that such areas are accessible will be a benefit to us all, particularly people with a visual impairment or limited mobility."
Madelyn Bridge, chief executive of Age UK in Cheshire East, fully supports the policy.
She said: "There is no doubt that alfresco dining and socialising brings vitality to our communities and actually makes people feel safer on the streets. All we ask is for those enjoying open spaces to consider less-able residents and ensure there is enough unobstructed pavement to pass without fear of tripping."
The conditions of an alfresco licence are:
- The alfresco area should be located immediately in front of the premises, should not be wider than the front of the premises. The maximum depth of the area is three metres.
- Ample space should be left for pedestrians and emergency vehicles to pass safely. Generally this should be 1.8m on pavements and 2.3m on pavements with a bus stop.
- The area must be clearly marked and be contained within portable barriers. The barrier must not be less than 800mm high and either continuous to the ground or incorporate a lower rail or tap board.
- No money should be exchanged outside the premises, customers must go inside the business to make payments.
- Food should only be prepared inside the premises, it must not be prepared outside.
- The area must be kept clean and tidy at all time and furniture cleared from the area outside trading hours.
- Alfresco areas can operate between the hours of 7am and 11pm, subject to other licensing restrictions.
- All seating, tables and barriers must be removed from the pavement and stored away outside the hours of operation.
- Businesses wishing to set up an alfresco area must have public liability insurance to the value of £5 million per incident.
- Any A-boards, banners or signs must be in accordance with Cheshire East Council's Clear Way Forward Policy.
The cost for an initial licence is £150 for premises wishing to provide an alfresco seating area for up to four people and the annual renewal fee is £100. For premises wishing to provide an alfresco seating area for more than four people the cost for an initial licence is £550 and the annual renewal is £330.
Councillor Menlove added: "The pricing structure means the authority only recovers the cost it incurs through the application process. We want to ensure a fair deal for owners and managers and so smaller venues pay less for their licence than their larger counterparts.
"I would advise anyone applying for a licence to seek advice from Cheshire East Council to discuss the policy in more detail on 0300 123 5020."
Leaflets will be delivered to all Cheshire East's café, restaurant, bar, pub and takeaway owners or managers, outlining the licensing system.
