Hospitality businesses in Sefton can now apply for temporary pavement licences for no more than £100 as they look to continue trading amid coronavirus social distancing measures. Tony McDonough reports

Cafes and restaurants in Sefton hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis can now apply for temporary pavement licence to support social distancing.

Hospitality businesses in Liverpool are already seeing the benefit of the Liverpool With Walls project which has allowed them to offer seating to customers outside their premises.

Now Sefton is following suit by adopting a new temporary pavement licence process. This is a streamlined consent route to allow businesses to obtain a licence to place temporary furniture, such as tables and chairs, outside cafes, bars and restaurants quickly and for a fee of no more than £100.

The temporary measures can be extended up to the end of September 2021, with no requirement for planning permission during this period. The measures also provide automatic extensions to the terms of on-sales alcohol licences to allow for off-sales.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services said: “In response to new Government legislation, the council have adopted a pavement café policy to support local businesses as they recover from this pandemic.

“These new ‘pavement licences’ will allow businesses selling food and drink to obtain permission to place tables and chairs on the public highway outside their premises, while still having regards for all users of the highway, especially those with disabilities.

“These measures will help ease some of the legislative requirements concerning planning and licensing, while social distancing guidelines remain in place. It’s important the we can support Sefton businesses as we want our high street to bounce back from the effects Coronavirus.

Click here for more information on applying for a licence.