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

PDF Icon Designated area 1 - Town centre and Montpellier - pdf - 5.11 Mb

PDF Icon Designated area 2 - Lansdown, College, All Saints, St Paul's, Pittville and Prestbury - pdf - 4.97 Mb

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
Pay the required fee (see below)

PDF Icon Consent to distribute free printed matter - application form - pdf - 377 Kb

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?

Points for number of days per week
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)

Points for areas covered
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

Points for days and times
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?

Points for what you're 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?

Points for number of distributors
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 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.

If your application is refused, you can appeal to the magistrates' court.

Permit conditions

Please read the conditions attached to the permit.

PDF Icon Consent to distribute free printed matter - conditions - pdf - 79 Kb