Footpaths being obstructed.

[Ray]

Not so many years ago, our Council would not allow small "A" frame advertising signs on the footpaths in the main street, now we find the footpaths all but completely blocked by tables and chairs particularly in front of the hotels. Although this may be great business for the hotels, I find it does not go well with pedestrians particularly women and children, who have to thread their way through (mainly male) drinkers sitting all over the footpaths.

I think that if the hotels want beer gardens, they should have them on their own property.

[adminer]

Welcome Ray!
I'ts been a month or so since I was up north and I confess I don't recall many tables on footpaths (perhaps because I wasn't walking) 

Do you think this is related to the relatively new anti-smoking laws?  If you take some of the busier strips in Adelaide, such as Norwood & North Adelaide for example, the footpaths have been changed to provide specific areas for both tables and pedestrians. Anyone else have a view on this?

[utegirl70]

Some certain councils in Adelaide don't allow A frames to congest the footpaths, maily because of the insurance payouts if anyone injured themselves.
I must admit that I can not recall any such obstruction in Jamestown, but then again, it has been AAAAAGES since being up there.

The Non Smoking laws probably are a lot to blame, but as Ray put it, it should be up to the hotel/cafe to provide a safe haven out of the weather for smokers, instead of the footpath. That's just ridiculous to expect smokers to converge on the roadside.

Have you thought of contacting the council and finding out what the laws are Ray?

[Ray]

Sorry,... I wasn't ignoring you, just busy with other things i guess.

This problem has me in a bit of a dilemma, as I don't like to stifle business, but I don't want to see our nice open footpaths cluttered with furniture and drinkers. I know for a fact that several ladies are not impressed at having to pass right through sometimes large groups of drinkers on the footpath, especially if they have children or a stroller etc.

As you said, if the businesses want a smoking area, they should have it on their own premises.

[Luke]

I agree with Ray's comment, as my wife, children and I often go for a evening walk, we find the drinkers on the footpaths somewhat intimidating, so we cross the road and come back a little further down. I do  stress though, we have never been abused or anything, but just feel uneasy about the situation.

[Ray]

You are not alone Luke, I have heard several persons express your concerns.

On the night of the Public Meeting regarding the Hospital, I used the public toilet there and the behaviour of the drinkers there would have made me think twice.

[Richard]

One thing about the cold weather, there does not seem to be a problem at the moment.

[Cliff64]

Guess what! the weather is warming up, and the footpaths are back in favour.

[Ray]

On the night of the Town meeting regarding the Hospital, it was absolutely freezing, and the yelling and swearing going on in front of the Commercial Hotel could be clearly heard from the front of the Town Hall.

I walked up to the public toilets as I didn't know of the one's in the hall, had I have been a woman, I would have had serious reservations about going up there.

[Luke]

Does anyone in the council read this forum - Please do something about the footpaths being blocked by drinkers and causing people to walk out on the road, who is liable if someone is hit by a motor car.

[Ray]

If they do read it Luke, they conscientiously slide it into the too hard basket, or wait until someone fills out the correct paperwork. After all, it's a bureaucracy and nothing will happen to benefit the ratepayers until it absolutely has to. The Council's main job these days is to ensure that the red tape machine is kept in good going order.

There is little doubt that nothing will be done until either the furniture on the footpath or the fact that people are forced to walk on the road to get around the "Goings on" there, causes an accident, then all and sundry will dive for cover.

[CableGuy]

Today, whilst sitting out under the pergola I heard a discussion on the ABC about hotels and footpaths. The general discussion was about drinkers on council footpaths, this discussion, I believe, revolved around the local government act within South Australia that apparently states that only the number of persons for which seating is supplied can consume alcohol in this situation, and that they must be seated, any additional persons standing can incur a fine for the licensee, as has just recently happened at a hotel somewhere in S.A. (the cause of this topic being raised on the ABC). So apparently, as a example, and to my understanding, if there is seating for 10 people, and 2 other people are standing around - the hotel can be fined for the 2 additional people. Interesting aye!

[Ray]

Hmmmm,.... interesting.

Perhaps someone needs to inform the publicans that they are exposing themselves to potential attention by the police and no doubt the Licencing Board.  I took a photos several weeks ago of just such a gathering where severalof those drinking were not seated but standing on the footpath.



Never the less, I still see no reason why publicans should be allowed to obstruct the footpaths. If they want a beer garden, build it on their own premises, out of sight and hearing of the general public. I was always of the opinion that the Liquor Licencing Act only covered the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises, things must have changed.