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Licensing and traffic calming measures

Parish and town councils are essential in their advisory role on licensing and traffic calming measures, working closely with principal authorities. Although they do not have direct powers over licensing decisions (e.g. alcohol, entertainment, or gambling licenses), they can influence licensing decisions. Parish and town councils are more proactive in traffic calming and road safety measures, which are crucial to community safety.

Here’s a breakdown of the areas parish and town councils can support:

  • Consultation role — Parish and town councils are statutory consultees in the licensing process. This means they are notified of applications and can submit representations or objections if they have concerns about public safety, crime, disorder, or nuisance to the community.
  • Licensing reviews — Parish and town councils can request that the local licensing authority review existing licenses if they believe the licensed premises are causing problems related to public safety or community well-being.
  • Local representation — Parish and town councils often lobby the principal authority for traffic calming measures in their area. These could include speed limits, speed bumps, signage, pedestrian crossings, or road narrowing schemes to slow down traffic in residential or village areas.
  • Small-scale schemes — Parish and town councils may fund or contribute to smaller-scale traffic calming measures through their own budgets, such as installing speed indicators and village gates or organising community-led initiatives like Speedwatch programs, where volunteers monitor vehicle speeds.
  • Neighbourhood planning powers — Through neighbourhood plans, parish and town councils can include provisions for traffic management and safety, although these must align with broader planning and highway authority policies.
  • Community advocacy — Parish and town councils can advocate for or against specific licensing applications based on local knowledge and residents' concerns, such as noise, antisocial behaviour, or the impact on local safety.

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