Nottingham City Council is issuing a warning to distributors of free printed matter to get a permit or risk being fined.

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act enables the City Council to designate land and places where the distribution of free printed matter, including leaflets, newspapers and pamphlets, is prohibited without the prior consent of the City Council.

Areas in Nottingham where prior permission to distribute free printed matter is needed by the City Council include Nottingham City Centre, the shopping area on Southchurch Drive in Clifton, Radford Road shopping area, The Forest Recreation Ground up to the end of the shops on Mansfield Road and Bulwell Town Centre.

Anyone wishing to distribute any free matter within these areas must obtain the prior consent of Nottingham City Council. Anybody caught distributing without the correct consent will be issued with a fixed penalty fine of £75 or prosecuted. The business responsible for the material can also be issued with a fixed penalty or be prosecuted.

Plain clothes officers from Nottingham City Council, Community Protection Officers and Nottinghamshire Police carry out regular spot checks including during the night. In a recent spot check, 3 people were found to be handing out flyers without permits and they have each received £75 fixed penalty notices and the venue is on a final written warning, any further breaches could result in the consent being suspended or revoked.

Cllr Katrina Bull, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Nottingham City Council said: “With the Christmas period fast approaching more free leaflets and other printed matter are being distributed and dropped which can blight public spaces. The purpose of this legislation is to help control these distributions and associated litter problems. Distributors are being warned to get a permit otherwise they could risk a £75 fine. If you are given a flyer while out and about don’t just throw it on the street - put it in the bin as you could be fined £75. “

An authorised officer of Nottingham City Council may also seize any free printed matter from a person found distributing it in a designated place without the consent of Nottingham City Council.

Enquiries about an application for consent to distribute free printed matter should be made to the Public Health team, City Development, Lawrence House, Talbot Street, Nottingham NG1 5NT, telephone 0115 915 6790 or by e-mailing public.health@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

This does not apply to material distributed by or on behalf of a charity or when the distribution is for political purposes or for the purposes of religion or a belief, or delivering items to properties letter boxes.