main content Giving Out Free Literature on the Street

Anyone giving out leaflets or other free literature in town centres from 1 January 2007, may need a licence. With powers granted under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the Council aims to prevent discarded material from littering pavements by imposing strict controls on the distributors of free literature in designated areas of the borough.

“High Street shoppers can get bombarded with a variety of unwanted leaflets, flyers and pamphlets. The new licensing arrangements will help to control this and the associated problem of littering. Distributors must adhere to the conditions of the licence and regularly remove any discarded material throughout the day of distribution” said Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager.

Anyone intending to give out free literature in the High Streets of Bromley, Orpington, Beckenham, Penge and West Wickham must apply for a licence and pay a fee of £25 a day.

Licences are not required if the literature is for non-commercial gain or if the content is political, charitable or religious. A fixed penalty notice (fine) may be issued to anyone who distributes free literature in a designated area without a licence.

For further information contact Street Services on 020 8313 4621 or visit the "Distributing Free Literature on the Street".

Notes to editors:
A licence is required to give out free literature in a designated area if…

• you hand out the literature yourself
• you pay another person to hand out the literature for you
• you distribute literature from a vehicle, moving or stationary
• you place it in a stand for the public to help themselves for free
• you place on, or attach it to, vehicles 
• its purpose is for commercial gain

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 e-mail andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk  
or Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager on 020 8313 4901

Further information is available at visit the "Distributing Free Literature on the Street"