Crackdown on Ross roadside adverts

In the run up to Christmas, The Highland Council’s  Planning and Development Service is getting tough over the display of unauthorised posters and placards near the roadside in the Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Tore and North Kessock areas as it deems them to be an eyesore and a serious hazard to road users.

Similar action will take place in other parts of The Highland Council area during 2014.

The posters and placards targeted will be those without the benefit of express advertisement consent/deemed advertisement consent and, predominantly, those located on road verges, pavements, at junctions and roundabouts bordering or close to trunk and other main roads.

Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of the Council’s Planning Environmental and Community Services Committee said:  “I can appreciate the enterprise shown by small businesses trying to promote themselves as best they can, but some locations have become magnets for this kind of roadside clutter. The bottom line is that these unauthorised advertisements not only detract from the amenity of the area, but perhaps more importantly pose a serious hazard to road users and pedestrians. When located on busy roads, particularly those close to junctions, they can cause drivers to slow and divert attention from their driving, which can lead to serious road traffic incidents.”

Where unauthorised advertisements include an address for the person responsible for their placement, or the Council can reasonably establish an address, it will give 2 days’ notice of removal. If they are not removed by their owners within this period, the Council will remove them and they will be destroyed. In all other cases, posters and placards will be removed on sight and destroyed. Where posters and placards reappear without consent, the Council will consider reporting repeat offenders to the Procurator Fiscal.

Unauthorised advertisements are a growing issue for the Highlands and during 2014 our planning enforcement team will be increasing its activity in this area. The public should be aware that many types of advertisement require consent and if consent is not in place, an offence is automatically committed. Placing an advertisement on a stationary trailer in a field or cark park requires consent regardless of the fact it is on a trailer or permission has been given by the landowner.

Anyone considering erecting an advertisement is  encouraged to contact the Planning and Development Service in advance for advice (01349 886 608).