Crackdown on posters (From Stroud News and Journal)

Crackdown on posters

PUBLIC events from nightclubs to Women's Institute meetings could be shut down by council officials if organisers do not follow strict new rules on fly-posting.

Anti-social behaviour chief Colin Peake has set up tough new guidelines, known as Factor 4, as part of his ongoing battle to stamp out fly-posting in the district..

The council can even seek injunctions to cancel all kinds of events if they do not obey the stringent new rules, which ban pasted posters and set down rules for publicising events.

"Fly-posting is a disease which blights our daily lives as everyone moves around this wonderful county," said Mr Peake.

The Factor 4 curbs allow an event to be advertised only in the four weeks running up to it, within four miles of the venue and states that all posters must be taken down within four days after the event.

All pasted posters have been banned under the new scheme, which only allows signs which can be easily taken down again. Clean-ups are fly-posting 'hot spots', including Club Splash in Merrywalks, have already been organised.

"We wish to regularise in what format and where posters can be placed," said Colin Peake. "Certain public locations are now total non-starters. Using traffic lights and roundabouts, as well as other locations where their placement could cause accidents will not be tolerated."

Stroud District Council claim the initiative has already attracted attention from the Home Office and other local authorities and could even be introduced nationally if it is a success.

Cllr David Wride, portfolio holder for Community Cohesion at Ebley Mill, said: "Many local residents have already contacted the council to praise this initiative. It would be nice to see it rolled out throughout the county, regionally and nationally."