Historic funfairs across Wiltshire could be at risk of closure if recent clampdowns on flyposting are not reconsidered. Councillors are set to discuss the potential impact of these stricter advertising rules at a full council meeting on Tuesday, October 21.
New regulations targeting unauthorized billposting have unintentionally hampered the ability of long-established fairs to promote their events. Conservatives Allison Bucknell (Lyneham) and Jane Davies (Marlborough West) will present a motion highlighting that local fairs and traveling fairgrounds depend heavily on spontaneous, localized advertising to attract visitors.
Until now, these fairs have been able to place signs in suitable public locations without interference. However, the recent enforcement has increased the workload for volunteers organizing these events and resulted in the removal of essential promotional materials, threatening the viability of historic enterprises such as George Scarrott’s Funfair.
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Bucknell and Davies argue that requiring these businesses to negotiate and pre-approve poster schedules with highways officers for each event is impractical and burdensome for both parties. Instead, they propose establishing a “Trusted Billposter” scheme that would allow fairs and showgrounds to register with the council and agree upon a predefined advertising plan.
This approach would enable authorized organizations to display signage by simply providing advance notification, streamlining the process and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Should a registered group fail to adhere to the agreed terms, their privileges would be revoked.
The motion calls on councillors to support this community-oriented scheme and instructs council officers to draft a policy that aligns with planning and highways legislation. This policy will define the responsibilities and operational guidelines for trusted billposters and is expected to be presented to the full council for review in the near future.
The initiative aims to preserve cherished cultural events by balancing regulatory compliance with practical advertising needs, safeguarding the legacy of Wiltshire’s historic funfairs.