Publish footpath policy

Gosford Council would do well after almost four years to publish the latest revised policy on the use of our footpaths in the local Peninsula News.

But more importantly all those thousands of people in business in the Gosford Local Government Area owe it to themselves to be familiar with what is required of them when they commit to going into business.

Access the current policies on Gosford Council's website and avoid acting on misleading information.

I know it is hard when as a small business you come to me with concerns.

People are enjoying the benefits of a clear differential application of council's policies relating to the encroachment of business activity onto our footpaths and road reserves, while you and others are being fined and hassled.

I have several times pointed out to my readers the bottom line in all this has always been the State-mandated need for public risk insurance to be in place.

Currently an amount of around $10 million must be in place to indemnify Gosford Council, if they give permission for business to place an A-frame or conduct business on the footpath.

The Local Government Act has been quite clear for decades that anything on the footpath without prior approval is there illegally.

Email, 19 Feb 2010 Edward James, Umina