Important factors to stop fly posters (From Stroud News and Journal)

Important factors to stop fly posters

CIVIC leaders unveiled the latest weapon in the war against anti-social behaviour this week as they vowed to take a tough line on fly posting.

A high-profile clean up operation was launched in Merrywalks on Wednesday where Stroud District Council staff armed with high-pressure hoses stripped the offending posters from the wall of Club Splash.

The event, which caused traffic to back up to Sainsbury's certainly made its point, that fly posting that did not fit within the council's guidelines would no longer be tolerated.

"We live in a lovely district and have some very pretty towns and villages," said Cllr Dorcas Binns, cabinet member for health and well-being.

"What we don't like is constant fly posting for various events and organisations. "It stays around for a long time and looks ugly.

"We now have a policy to work with organisations and people who want to hold events. "We are saying 'put them in the right places'."

Called Factor 4, the new policy calls on people not to put up posters more than four weeks in advance and four miles from the event and to take them down within four days once the event has happened.

According to the new rules the posters should also be stuck up so they can be taken down without ripping off paint with them or leaving half the paper on the wall. And they should not be placed anywhere that might distract motorists.

Cllr Binns warned, the district council was not without teeth when it came to enforcing its new policy. "If they don't comply we'll give them fair warning," she said.

"If they still don't listen we will send a message out to the community that we won't put up with it and will get an injunction to force them to remove it and face the possibility of punishment and penalties."

Anyone who wishes to find out exactly what is and is not acceptable should call the council's advice line on 01453 754297.