City of Cape Town News
Friday, 23 October 2009 14:42
The City of Cape Town is giving all interested parties a last chance to comment on the final draft of the new Outdoor Advertising By-law, with public hearings on 22 and 23 October at the Civic Centre.
The final draft Outdoor Advertising By-Law of 2009 is available the City website www.capetown.gov.za . These public hearings are the final opportunity for people to present their comments, after which the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee (PEPCO) will discuss the outcome before the by-law goes to Council for approval.
The City’s Outdoor Advertising By-law controls all outdoor advertising such as shop signs, posters and billboards. The proposed by-law aims to strike a balance between outdoor advertising opportunities and economic development on the one hand, and the visual, tourist, traffic safety, environmental and heritage characteristics, together with the broader public interests of the City of Cape Town on the other hand.
The new by-law also takes into account climate change, for example – and recommends that all signs that require electricity consider an alternative energy source such as solar or wind generated power.
The by-law is the product of several years of wide consultation with all the sectors that might be affected by the by-law.
In 1999, the Cape High Court ordered the City to amend its Outdoor Advertising By-law to allow third party advertising, but also restrict such advertisers to protect Cape Town’s rich environment. Accordingly, a by-law was put in place in Cape Town in 2000, and extended across the metro in 2001. This now been reworked and updated. Although the City has allowed third party advertising, the new by-law will provide greater clarity on this issue.
The City is in the process of appointing 13 more environmental control officers to enforce the by-law. These individuals will be assisted by Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Traffic Services. The new by-law contains stricter enforcement provisions and penalties.
Already more than 4 000 comments have been received from stakeholders, as a result of 25 working sessions. Comments have incorporated in the final version of the by-law, now being considered by the City.