‘WE FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO KEEP US QUIET’
Campaigners told to remove parking fee protest banners
A COMMUNITY leader has hit out after banners protesting about new beauty spot parking charges were removed.
Almost 2,000 people signed a petition against the proposed new fees, which include paying £1.20 for three hours at Westport Lake and Central Forest Park.
In further efforts to draw attention to the campaign, members of Facebook group Our Burslem put up banners in Westport Road and Market Place.
They read: “Keep our green space free... say no to parking fees, nature is for all to enjoy.”
But the group was told by Stoke-on-trent City Council the banners would have to be taken down as they are classed as fly-posting.
Our Burslem founder, June
Cartwright, below, said: “The community is not allowed to voice their opinion. I’m really disappointed in the council for what they’ve done.
“We are going to find somewhere else to put them because why can’t the community speak? We have got rights to voice our concerns, and we feel like the council is trying to silence us.” She added: “Westport Lake is a place where people go for exercise, a nice walk around and they feed the wildlife. “Also, the children nowadays don’t go to the seaside, and it’s a bit like the seaside where you could stand there and relax.
“There’s a playground and it’s really well used by families who haven’t got the money to go to the seaside.
“People can’t afford to pay those sort of prices.
“The charges will stop people from visiting Westport Lake and Forest Park. Residents have been treated unfairly.
“The council can object as much as they want, but they will go on private land and that way they can’t do anything about them.”
A city council spokesman said: “The banners were removed because fly-posting is a criminal offence, and we treat all incidents the same.
“Not only is it illegal to put non-approved signs up without the permission of the property owner, which in this case is the council, they also create a distraction and potential danger to road users and give a negative impression of the area.
“This was explained when we returned the property.
“We are dealing with a number of fly-posting cases across the city and we take a zero-tolerance approach to all of them, just the same as we do with fly-tipping.
“Residents can report flyposting to us on our website.”