If you’d like to attach something to a lamppost you will need permission from the council – this is known as a S178 Licence.
Examples of attachments include:
- Fire hydrant signs
- Bus stops and timetables
- Special event signage
- Directions to housing developments
- Neighbourhood Watch signs
- Blind persons referencing points
- Police notices, surveillance cameras and similar equipment
Festive Lighting, hanging baskets, pennants, and banner attachments to lighting columns
| Type of Load |
Lighting Columns |
Maximum Dimensions |
Height above ground |
| 1.No-waiting plate |
All |
Area 0.10m2 |
Symmetrical |
| 2.Neighbourhood Watch sign |
All |
Area 0.15m2 |
Symmetrical |
| 3.Litter bin or dog foul bin |
All |
600mm high x 400mm wide |
Top 900mm above ground level |
| 4.Other signs, bus transponders and trackers |
All |
Area 0.30m2 |
Symmetrical |
| 5(a) Festive Lighting |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
1.3m high x 1.0m wide. Maximum weight 4.8kg; or a 40m span of festive lights held on a catenary wire |
5.3m above ground level to the lowest point of the Festive Lighting |
| 5(b) Hanging Baskets (two) |
All |
1.0m high, including suspension wires/chains etc x 0.75m diameter wide. Maximum weight 20kg each |
Symmetrical 2.5m above ground level to the bottom of the hanging basket |
| 5(c) Pennants (one) Flexible devices fixed at top and one bottom corner only |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
1.61m high x 0.76m wide |
2.5m above ground level to lowest point of Pennant |
| 5(d) Banners (one) Flexible devices fixed along the top and bottom |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
3.6m high x 0.9m wide |
6.4m above ground level to top fixing |
| 5(e) CCTV Equipment (one) on offset bracket |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
Size and weight 600mm diameter sphere. Maximum weight 17kg |
Maximum height above ground level 8m |
| 5(f) Environmental Monitoring Equipment (one) on offset bracket |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
Size and weight 400mm long x 200mm wide x 200mm high. Maximum weight 4.8kg |
Maximum height above ground level 3m |
| 5(g) Telecommunication Equipment |
Lighting Columns >=8m height |
Size and weight 300mm high x 75mm wide. Maximum weight 2.0kg |
Maximum height above ground level 8m |
Application
Download and complete the application form - please submit, for review, to: [email protected].
S178 Application form (PDF)
Included in the application, you must provide a valid copy of Public Liability Indemnity Insurance (minimum of £5m).
S178 Licences are valid for a 12 month period, although after this has lapsed an extension request can be submitted.
Please note: signposts are not suitable for attachments, nor are lampposts with any existing attachments.
You should receive a response within 14 days of your application being received.
Fees and Payment
If the application is approved, you will need to pay a non-refundable administration fee. Costs depends on the number of attachments applied for:
- One to five attachments: £214 (VAT exempt)
- Six to 20 attachments: £285 (VAT exempt)
- 21 to 50 attachments: £356 (VAT exempt)
- 50+ authorised attachements: to be agreed based on quantity and detail
- Fitting by council of authorised attachments to column: quote given for actual cost incurred, from Enerveo (formerly known as SSE).
Payment should be made via cheque, for the correct amount, made payable to Knowsley MBC. Please post cheques to:
Tracy Daley,
Street Lighting PFI Contract,
Knowsley Council,
Stretton Way Depot,
Huyton,
L36 6JF
Fitting the attachment
You can fit the attachments yourself as long as you have a valid S178 Licence and insurance to cover accidental damage that may be caused when fitting the attachments.
An individual quote can be provided if you would like the council to fit attachments