STREET advertising A-boards could be banned from the city centre if a council report is backed by community leaders.

A review into the use of the signage was carried out by City of York Council, and concluded they could remove them from main streets and maintain a strict approach on their use in side streets.

The review listed three recommendations as guidelines to councillors, which include traders using A-boards under strict criteria, banning them from streets where the width of the pavement is limited and introducing appropriate resources to police the changes.

This approach would also encompass all forms of street advertising, including bicycles and flower carts.

The group was set up following a check in 2013 which found 150 hoardings were causing an obstruction and hampering attempts to reduce road clutter.

The review stated: "The Task Group acknowledged the reasons why a business would choose to use an A-board; inexpensive form of advertising, versatile, increasing footfall etc.

"However, while they heard from a number of businesses on the benefits they bring, they were unable to evidence the actual value/income generated by the use of street advertising, to the individual businesses.

"The Task Group recognised there are some streets, particularly in the city centre, where the width of the footpath and roadway would not allow for the use of an A-board regardless of a policy, licensing scheme or voluntary guidelines."

The row between traders and the council over the use of A-boards stretches back to 2008 when the authority threatened businesses who did not remove them with a £2,500 fine over fears they would block pavements and cause accidents, but relented the following year, telling traders no action was likely if boards were propped against buildings.

The group was set up in response to the difficulites seen around the city and a scathing report issued by York’s Blind and Partially Sighted Society in December last year, which stated A-boards were so common that many streets were almost impossible for blind people or people with limited mobility to navigate.

City of York Council has also considered reviews carried out by Brighton and Hove Council in 2010 which introduced a licensing scheme for their use of A-boards.

The report will be put to the Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, January 7, from 5.30pm.