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Attaching Remembrance poppies to street lights

We support commemorative displays of Royal British Legion poppies on street lights as part of Remembrance activities. Before attaching a poppy to a street light you need to apply for a licence. This is free.

For larger poppy displays than would usually be used, you may need to apply for a different licence to attach items to street lights. If you're unsure which application to submit, contact us online for advice.

How to apply

To apply for a licence to attach poppies to street lights, fill in our street light poppy display application and email this to streetlightingdesign@barnsley.gov.uk. You need to submit your application at least 10 working days before you intend to attach the poppy.

In your application you'll need to tell us the road name and unique reference numbers for each street light you want to attach a poppy to. The reference number is stencilled on the street lighting column.

You also need to have valid public liability insurance to the value of £10 million to cover the installation and removal of the poppies.

What happens next

We'll decide the outcome of your application within 10 working days and let you know if this has been approved. If it has, we'll issue your licence. You must not attach any poppy to a street light before we've issued the licence to you.

Installing the poppies

When installing poppies on street lights you must comply with the following:

• Poppies must be installed above head height to avoid interference with pedestrians and vehicles.
• Plastic cable ties should be used, with any excess trimmed off to prevent snagging or injury.
• Installers must take appropriate care to ensure their own safety and that of other highway users.
• Ladders must not be placed directly against the lighting column. Use self-supporting ladders, free-standing platforms, or mobile elevated work platforms.
• Where it is intended to attach poppies to posts that already carry road signs, these will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Displays must not obstruct visibility at junctions or signage on other posts or columns.
• Any commercial advertising is strictly regulated and must be approved by us before any installation.

Removal of poppies

You must remove the poppies within five working days of Remembrance Sunday or Remembrance Day, whichever is later. If an issue with the siting of poppies is identified or reported to us, we may require their immediate removal.

More information

Read our street lighting attachments guidance for more details about applying to attach poppy displays to street lights.