ROADSIDE ADVERTISEMENTS
The Government decide they have had enough

At certain times of the year the roadside verge between North Mill and Midhurst Bus Station becomes a forest of homemade signs advertising everything from a local auction to a carboot sale.At one point last autumn there were 17 assorted signs.

Why do we allow this dangerous and unsightly scourge to defile the entrance to our our beautiful town and present such a negative image to our visitors om whom the Town's economy is now increasingly dependent?

30 years ago, signage on the public highway ie the roadside verge, was not a major problem. Vicars, headteachers, local society leaders and businessmen exercised restraint in erecting signs to promote events. Nowadays, there seems to be an unseemly free for all in a signage war where individual interests seek to out bid each other for free billboard space on the roadside verges, trees and street furniture. And, yes, responsibility has gone out of the window!

The Government is so concerned about roadside advertising generally it made the announcement below on the 24th of July 2006.

Col Tex Pemberton of WSCC Highways Dept on 5th June 2006 said this to me in respect of roadside signage:
"This is really getting out of hand...... it is very high on my Agenda" On 14/8 " we will not move to zero tolerance but to a 'managed' arrangement" The WSCC Team is now defining the arrangement and working out the process. (See Editor's Comment below).

 

Action to axe distracting roadside adverts

DCLG News Release 2006/0067

24 July 2006

Illegal advertisements beside motorways and major roads face a clampdown as they could be putting drivers in danger, the Government said today. New guidance to councils is part of revised advertising regulations, which will also make it easier to fly national flags.

Announcing the start of a consultation on revised regulations on outdoor adverts, Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper urged councils to take a tough stance against those who try to get around planning rules by putting unauthorised adverts in fields. She also called on councils to work closely with the Highways Agency to ensure that roadside advertising is appropriate to the landscape and does not pose a hazard to those using the roads.

A draft Circular being issued today includes advice to local planning authorities on how to deal with unlawful adverts as well as providing guidance to councils across England to help ensure that the planning system works effectively.

In addition, the Government is writing to councils asking them to improve enforcement and for information to help build up a database of persistent offenders for displaying illegal adverts and fly posting. This database will act as a resource for authorities when building prosecution cases.

Yvette Cooper said:

“Too many of our motorways are now strewn with illegal trailer adverts, which cause hazards for drivers and are unsightly too. Just because the ads are parked on trailers doesn’t mean they should be able to dodge proper planning and safety rules. 23 per cent of drivers say they have been so distracted by roadside distractions, such as ads, that they have swerved out of lane. That’s why applications need to go through the proper planning system so they can be appropriately assessed.”

The new Regulations will also update and improve existing legislation including that which covers flags. Currently it is unlawful to fly a national flag without consent from the council unless it is flown from a vertical flagpole.  The rule changes will allow national flags to be flown without permission however they are displayed.  The same policy will also apply to commonly used international flags: the European Union, the Commonwealth and United Nation flags.

Yvette Cooper continued:

“The regulations on flags are currently woefully out-of-date and far too bureaucratic. It is ridiculous that someone could be prosecuted for displaying their national flag. As the World Cup demonstrated, many people want to show their support for their national team and they should be able to do so without fear of prosecution.”

The consultation period will last for eight weeks. The regulations are expected to come into force in April 2007. The database of illegal advertising offenders will launch later in the year.

Notes to editors

1. Copies of the consultation documents are available in the House Libraries or via the DCLG website at: www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1017165
2. The database of persistent offenders was announced in January. See DCLG press notice:
   www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2051
3. Outdoor advertisements are controlled by the Town and Country (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992. LPAs are responsible for deciding whether a particular advertisement should be permitted or not, and also have powers in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to take action against advertisements displayed in contravention of the Regulations.
4. Advertisements displayed in contravention of the Regulations are an immediate offence which is open to prosecution by the local planning authority, under section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. LPAs also have powers under section 225 of the 1990 Act, to remove or obliterate any illegally displayed placard or poster after giving two days notice of their intention to do so.
5. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 increased the maximum level of fines on conviction to £2,500 and £250 for each day during which the offence continues.
6. A survey by insurance group Privilege highlights the problems that roadside objects including adverts can cause for drivers with 83 per cent saying they have been distracted by them and 23 per cent saying they have been distracted enough to veer out of lane.
   

Editor's Comment.
West Sussex County Council have all the powers they need to regulate illegal signage but have gone light on enforcement except in situations where a sign, or drift of signs, is clearly a distraction to motorists and thus deemed a highway obstruction. A large sign at the old Syngenta site was removed as a highway obstruction in the summer of 2005.Since I raised this issue of signage with Col Tex Pemberton in March 2006 I've been told by him on several occasions that the review process is still going on with Cabinet colleagues but nothing has been revealed as to when a new regime will be announced, or what the new regime will be.The News Release above would, however suggest the Goverment would like next April as a start date for all councils to tighten up their act.

In the meanwhile, I suggest all serial signers send me their event details for free inclusion in What's on in Sussex - and avoid inclusion in the Database of Persistent Offenders! Email me here: john.truemanNOSPAM44@virgin.net Remove the words NOSPAM and use Outlook Express as usual.

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"Serial Signage " is sponsored by Violet Designs, Midhurst, West Sussex Tel: 01730 810059. We just try harder to give exceptional service and prices.

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