Prague is preparing to regulate advertising on poles in the heritage conservation area

Prague - Prague is preparing to regulate advertising in the Prague heritage reserve. It is expected to take effect from January next year. In an interview with ČTK, Deputy Mayor Petra Kolínská (SZ/Trojkoalice) stated this. With exceptions, advertising measuring up to one square meter that hangs on traction poles or public lighting will be prohibited. The proposal will be discussed by the city council in August.

In addition to the Prague heritage reserve, that is, the historical center of the metropolis, the ban will also apply to the village heritage reserves of Ruzyně and Stodůlky. Areas such as the waterfronts, bridges, and parks will also be without advertisements on poles. Some locations on the main thoroughfare, such as Wilson, Legerova, or Sokolovská streets, as well as Patočkova Street and Milady Horákové Street, will have exceptions. However, such advertisements will need to have a precisely defined format. The ban will also apply to illuminated advertisements. In this case, the main thoroughfare and the Southern Connector will be exempt.

The deputy mayor mentioned that there are also plans to regulate illegal advertising, particularly portable advertising displays. "The Institute of Planning and Development will be tasked with developing rules for low-cost advertising, so that organizers of non-commercial events and political parties can also access it equally before elections," she stated. "Although the proposal is a compromise, it will still lead to a reduction in visual smog and will definitely contribute to a better feeling while moving around the city. In the future, apart from new street furniture, we also want to unify the appearance of various navigation elements," she added.

The advertising regulation does not apply to advertising spaces managed by the French company JCDecaux under a contract with the city. The company manages city benches, public transport stops, trash bins, and advertisements on them until 2021. Politicians and competitors have repeatedly questioned the benefits of the contract for the city in the past. However, the contract has not yet been revised.

The Prague heritage reserve is the largest urban heritage reserve in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in the world. It includes the historical core of Prague, specifically the Old Town, Josefov, Mala Strana, Hradčany with Prague Castle, New Town with Vyšehrad, and to a small extent Vinohrady, Holešovice, Podolí, and Smíchov.