War on fly-posting sees 1,000 placards removed
ALMOST 1,000 advertising placards have been plucked from lampposts and railings throughout the city as part of a crackdown on fly-posting.
The adverts for businesses including home improvements, blinds and curtains, takeaway and gyms are not only an eyesore but can block lines of sight for motorists and pedestrians.
Now Birmingham’s waste enforcement unit is contacting the businesses involved and warning them to stop or face a fine or court action.
The crackdown has come after legitimate businesses complained about the free advertising and residents complained about the state of the streets.
So many have been taken they have filled the back of a broken down van seized from a fly-tipper and sat on a council-owned car park awaiting the crusher.
Council cabinet member for clean streets Majid Mahmood said: “The business community wanted us to tackle the fly-posting which is littering our streets.
“We took their action.
“We have removed approximately a thousand fly-posters which have been littering our streets.
“All these businesses will be written to and if they ignore the warning they will be fined £100 and if they don’t pay we will see them in court.
“These are an eyesore across the city, they damage our highway assets and more importantly they are an obstruction for drivers which can result in an accident which we have to avoid at all costs. “We have listened to residents and business and are taking action to remove the fly-posters from our streets.” advice and took
Earlier this year the city council launched a £155,000 pilot scheme to target fly-posting and assigned three investigators to deal with the menace.
They have removed 916 posters and identified 210 traders responsible.
“All have been written to and given ten days to remove any other posters put up without permission.
If their posters remain they will be issued with a community protection notice and if action is then not taken they receive a £100 fine.
So far two community protection notices have been issued and investigators are doing follow up checks to see if any posters remain.
Sifting through the posters in the van there were a lot of adverts for home improvements, including roof repairs, upvc windows and doors
These are an eyesore, they damage our highway assets and are an obstruction for drivers
businesses and and fitted bathrooms. There were also adverts for tuition courses, gyms, take aways, travel agents and foreign currency.
One advertised hydroponic lights, widely associated with growing cannabis indoors.
Officials said that tracking down some of the businesses had been difficult which means anyone using their services should beware.
They also said that the adverts for night clubs and concerts, which were once common, have almost all stopped as venues risk losing their licence following a campaign by backbench councillor Gareth Moore.
Cllr Majid Mahmood