Leicestershire County Council concedes defeat as roundabout ads to be removed
County Hall is to concede defeat in a long-running row over lucrative advertising signs on roundabouts.
Leicestershire County Council has made about £65,000 a year from signs it put up in 2006 at 48 junctions, despite not having planning permission.
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Councillor Lesley Pendleton
Now it is preparing to remove a number of the signs – which advertise local businesses – after planning officers at Blaby District Council refused retrospective planning permission for them at seven roundabouts on the grounds they distracted drivers.
On Thursday, members of Charnwood Borough Council's planning committee are expected to turn down 15 out of 16 similar applications if they follow the advice of their officers.
A number of the signs in Loughborough have already been taken down.
The signs have always been unpopular with the Campaign to Protect Rural England, which describe them as unnecessary roadside clutter, and driving organisations such as the RAC, which deems them a hazard.
County Hall's cabinet transport spokeswoman Councillor Lesley Pendleton said at the time the signs were erected that planning permission was not needed.
However, a change in adverting law in 2008 meant applications were subsequently required.
Signs at two roundabouts in Melton were approved but other district authorities raised objections on safety grounds.
Mrs Pendleton said: "The legislation says we need planning permission and some councils will not give it, so the signs will have to come down.
"We have to stick to the rules.
"Our professional highways officers do not believe they are a risk but some districts don't agree.
"We are in a period where our budgets are so tight and we found a way to generate cash to save expense to the taxpayer. The advertising pays for the roundabouts to be well maintained and that cost will now fall on the taxpayer."
A Blaby District Council spokesman said: "We have refused all the county council's applications and we are in negotiations with them about having the signs removed.
"Enforcement action is a last resort."
Mrs Pendleton said she hoped the county council would be able to see out deals with firms who paid in advance for advertising.
Charnwood CPRE chairman Joyce Noon said: "They are roadside clutter which is completely unnecessary. We hope the signs in Charnwood are refused permission and removed at the earliest time."
John Catt, of the Loughborough and District Cycle Users Campaign, was relieved, saying: "The point of an advert can only be to get someone to look at it. If drivers do that they are not looking where the should be – at the road."
10 Comments
by PHIL, Hinckley
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 7:46AM
“What a load of bull, according to all the responses to this, we should ban all road signs, shop signs, business signs on buildings, are we all such useless drivers that we will crash as a roundabout just because there is a small sign, What about the fancy neon lights of takeaways shop, or adverts outside many shops. as they are also a distraction, if the money raised is used for the maintenance of the roundabouts or put into the services which puts less pressure on us the TAX payer, well i am all for that, i do think that some people have a little to much time on their hands, may they would like to maintain the roundabouts on our behalf to save me some money on my council tax.”
by CGLee, near Melton
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 6:40PM
“Eight posts so far and all of them make more sense than LCC proclamations. As everyone else has said THESE SIGNS ARE A DISTRACTION AND MAY WELL CAUSE ROAD ACCIDENTS. Live with it LCC and obtain your revenue some other way.”
by Robbo the Yobbo, West End of Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 2:43PM
“Kudos to Blaby District Council and others. In my view 'professional highways officers' who do not see them as a distraction thereby disqualify themselves from commenting on road safety.”
by Rich, Leicestershire
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 2:15PM
“"Our professional highways officers do not believe they are a risk but some districts don't agree"
So whats the point of having them in the 1st place then? Adverts are there to be read and attract buiness. Maybe the people who paid for the adverts also should be asking some serious questions of their advertising effectifnes........”
by Jane Fooberry, suburbia
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:57PM
“These _are_ a hazard, whatever the pronouncements of 'experts'. As with fly-posters, those who put such stuff up should be treated as litter-louts and prosecuted.”
by Tom Watson, Barwell
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:40PM
“What an unbelievably naive and pompous stance by Lesley Pendleton who has the audacity to say "Our professional highways officers do not believe they are a risk...." The £65,000 gained by the council is probably 'lost' several times over in the time emergency services have spent clearing up after accidents, caused by motorists looking at these silly adverts.
As a driver of 40 years standing, and having driven all over the World, I can assure Ms Pendleton they ARE a distraction, and could cause accidents through driver inattention. The council should know better.
In fact, it's about time the placement of road signs and the proliferation of the, was better enforced by local authorities. The approach from Loughborough to the A6/A46 roundabout near Birstall is a classic case in point of too many signs to distract drivers.
Anyone with me on this?”
by Rich, Leicestershire
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:13PM
“Good news!
If you think about it, we are all reading a website of the Local Newspaper who get most of their income from advertising; effectivly the council is competeing against the Mercury and other local busineses for advertising revenues. That doesnet make sense in my book, the council is NOT there to make money and tred on other companies toes.”
by Eileen, Lib Dem Cllr., Kibworth
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 12:21PM
“About time too! Amazing isn't it that advertising signs on the verges are not permitted by LCC on the grounds of road safety (signs cause driver distraction) yet those they get an income from on roundabouts they gain money from seemingly neither distract or are a threat to highway safety?
I do think the signs are distracting and unsightly and have tried to get them removed in the Harborough District following complaints from local residents.
A little consisency from LCC would be in order please (and a speedy removal of these unsightly distractions to drivers te he).”
by Neil, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 11:39AM
“At last, a council that opposes flyposting is being told to remove their own flyposters (sorry, adverts).”
by Anon, Loughborough
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 10:45AM
“I agree, the signs are an eyesore to say the least plus a driving distraction. Common sense prevails at last.”