Art, Statues and Monuments on the Highway Policy 2021

Objectives:

• to manage the erection of art, statues, or monuments that enhance the highway environment
• to ensure that any art, statues or memorials have the support of the local community including support from the local Council member or members
• to ensure that any art, statues or memorials placed in the highway are formally assessed for safety
• to ensure the costs of assessment, erection, ongoing maintenance and removal are provided for
• to ensure that any art, statues or memorials have received other appropriate legislative consent, such as planning consent before they are assessed by the highway authority
• to ensure that the full costs of assessing and consenting are recovered
• to ensure that the Council is indemnified against any related claims or damage

Key Influences:

• Highways Act 1980
• Traffic Management Act 2004 
• safety – to ensure that public art on the highway is installed and maintained safely and in a location that doesn’t compromise the safety of highway users

For the purposes of this policy art, statues and monuments are considered to be any structures placed in the highway for display to the public by a third party.

Included are:

• temporary and permanent structures
• commercial and private structures

Excluded are:

• wreaths and flower tributes placed on the side of the road in memory of road traffic collision victims
• flower and planting schemes on sponsored roundabouts
• banners and birthday signs

Initially, the proposer should contact the local Highways team leader (HTL) to discuss the proposal and its location.

In many cases the Highways team leader will need to liaise with other officers in Dorset Highways such as the Bridges and Structures team before advising the proposer on whether the structure can be located in the proposed location.  

The team leader will advise the proposer on the likely costs for assessment and consent based on the initial discussions.  

If the proposer decides to pursue the consent, the team leader will be their point of contact within Dorset Highways and will provide the proposer with a copy of the application guidance. 

On receiving the full application, including a commitment by the applicant to pay the safety assessment fees, the HTL will organise a safety assessment at an appropriate level.  

A consent licence will be issued to the applicant on receipt of the fees charged. The licence will include any conditions considered necessary by Dorset Highways and these must be carried out by the applicant.

These may include road space noticing, construction or commuted sum payments.

Dorset Highways will oversee the erection of the structures and ‘sign off’ its completion. 

Consent requirements:

1. The structure is supported by the local community through the local government structure. It must have support of the local parish or town council and the local Council Member.   
2. The proposal must have planning permission either positive or by exemption.  
3. The location must be deemed to be suitable by the Highway Authority, this will primarily be decided on the grounds of road user safety.          
4. All Dorset Council Highways costs must be met by the applicant:
   • a) Any modifications or departures from the application must be agreed by the Council prior to the erection of the structure and any related costs will be borne by the original proposer
   • b) Any failure to obtain prior consent to any modification to/or departure from the application prior to the erection of the structure, or failure to comply with this policy or the consent licence will require removal or the structure with all related costs to be borne by the original proposer
   • c) Any loses or damage caused to or as a result of the structure are the responsibility of the original proposer
5. If any subsequent modifications to the highway at this location require the art, statue or monument to be moved, then the costs will be borne by the original proposer.   
6. The proposer is responsible for maintaining the structure in a good condition.

Enquiries relating to Art, Statues and Monuments on the Highway Policy 2021 within the extent of the Highway should be discussed with Highways Operations or via the Council website.

Measures of effectiveness will include:

• the number of complaints, comments and enquiries relating to Art, Statues and Monuments 

This policy was last reviewed in 2021 

The next review date is 2024