Liberal Democrats stamp out Fly-Posting (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Liberal Democrats stamp out Fly-Posting

July 1, 2004 12:00 AM

Cllr Pajak standing by illegal flyposters

Cllr Pajak "cancels" illegal flyposters

Swindon Liberal Democrats are encouraging the Council clamps down on illegal fly posting around the town, after a spate of literature was posted in recent months. If successful, Council Street Cleaning staff will paste "Cancelled" stickers across the illegal posters. Printed across the bottom of the cancelled sticker a message will read: 'This poster is cancelled by Swindon Borough Council'.

Cllr Stan Pajak, (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said:

"Fly posting is ugly, it makes our town look dirty and neglected. Worse than that, it gives the impression that Swindon residents don't care how their town looks and that is simply not true. Fly posting is also an illegal form of advertising and I want the Council and its partners to stamp it out. We must stop environmental criminals from causing urban decay in our town."

One initiative pioneered by Liberal Democrat controlled Oadby & Wigston Borough Council in Leicestershire is to literally cancel out the poster with a sign pasted over the advertisement saying, "Cancelled".

Stan Pajak, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesman continued:

"I will be suggesting we borrow a good idea from colleagues on a Leicestershire council to literally cancel out the advertisement. A bright strip bearing the words 'cancelled' will be posted over the illegal advertisement, making the fly-posted event appear not to be taking place.

"It's a short-term solution, but one that should bring a halt to illegal fly-posting. I would be very happy if the Council were to arrange legal places for events to be advertised, but we need to move away from the culture of a boarded up shop being made unsightly with adverts for record companies.

"Council tax payers shouldn't have to pick up the tab for shifting illegally placed posters on Swindon's walls, buildings, junction and telephone boxes."

Swindon Services is responsible for removing fly posters from Council property. They have a total street-cleaning budget of £1.8million a year.

"let's cancel fly-posting"

Cllr Pajak will propose his idea to the Services to the Community Scrutiny Commission that holds its first meeting since the local elections on Tuesday 13th July at 7pm. This is a public meeting, held at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street.

The London Borough of Camden recently presented the chairman of music giant, Sony with an Anti-social behaviour order for fly posting in north London. Sony have agreed to stop illegal fly posting across England as a result.