Anxiety over advertising (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Anxiety over advertising

Wootton Bassett councillor John Allen has called on High Street traders to be more responsible with the A-boards they use to advertise.

He said: "When we had the high winds a couple of weeks ago the boards were flying about, smashing into cars and damaging them and I worry that if it happens again people will be injured.

"I also think that having them cluttering up the High Street could make it difficult for the street cleaners."

The Highways Department's guidelines state that there should be no boards at all on the public highway.

Coun Allen said: "I don't think we are advocating a zero tolerance policy, but we need to be sensible about this.

"Small boards placed near the shops, like the ones that newsagents use to show the Gazette's latest headlines, are fine, but some shops take it too far with huge boards.

"We sent a letter to the shopkeepers about six months ago asking them to self-regulate, but it appears to have made no difference, so now I am asking the council to ask the district council what they can do about it."