Fly-posting is now official for Manchester pubs

Pubs in Manchester are to benefit from "public entertainment pillars" on which they can fly-post without prosecution.

Manchester City Council is investigating 700 cases of illegal fly-posting, and has developed a hard line on such activity. It has warned pubs they could lose their public entertainment licences if found putting up illegal posters that "deface" the city. It also plans to establish "street care" teams to track down people putting up posters.

But the idea of official pillars, which would be situated along the city's Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road and piloted over the Christmas period, has been welcomed by Manchester Pub and Club Watch members.

Kate Mountain, manager of the Roadhouse on Newton Street, said: "Even though posters are my most effective means of advertising I agree entirely about cutting down on the mess left by fliers dropped on the pavement.

"The laws on fly-posting have always been vague and we welcome the idea of official areas that are kept tidy and where everyone can put up posters."

Martin Pagel of Manchester City Council said: "The public entertainment pillars will provide an affordable and clean place for venues to advertise their events legitimately. We don't want to destroy the night-time economy and are not completely against fly-posting if the posters are put up responsibly."