for sale board

[Hgrove]

Where I live some of the primary schools' PTAs agree with local estate agents to have for sale boards erected in front some houses (consenting families), for the purpose of advertising forthcoming school fairs.  The houses themselves are not for sale, the boards merely advertise the fair.  One of my friends had a visit from someone from the local authority because apparently her boring neighbour had complained to the Council about "illegal advertising".   Does anyone know, do these boards breach any law of any sort?

[zmudge]

Every advertising board must accord with the (very long-winded) Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 as amended, or, in Scotland, the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 1990. Under these Regulations whoever allows a board to be erected must accept liability for any claim arising in connection with the board (so the PTA should really provide each householder with appropriate insurance). An estate agent cannot erect a board at a property unless
the agent has been instructed to sell that property. Also, as the PTA boards display advertisements not relating to goods sold or services provided on the premises they are illegal. 

[Hgrove]

Thanks for the reply.  I have a further question: Who has power to act against the householder permitting the board to be erected?  Do they have discretion whether to act or not?

[Octavius]

You've got to be a bit of an old meanie for complaining about adverts for school fairs - whoever is promoting it. 

There are plenty of them near me at the moment and the only downside is that it looks like a lot of houses are up for sale - until you get closer.

[zmudge]

The Enforcement Officer for your area has the power to prosecute, and also has the authority to enter anywhere at any time of the day or night without notice or permission to remove offending boards. Arbitrary removal by the Enforcement Officer's men is the most usual method in many area's of southern England in which I have dealings, and somehow the boards always get accidentally walked upon during removal and end up in distant places. However, in my experience (which is extensive and spread over many ten's of years) if your PTA had spoken first to your local Planning Department they would have found them very helpful and would have suggested many ways in which your fair advertising could be achieved without running into trouble. A call to the Planning Department even now could well save the day. 

[Hgrove]

Thanks for the replies. Firstly, it was not me/my neighbour, but a friend and her neighbour.  I was only asking out of curiosity. My friend told me it looked like the person from the local authority had attended because he had to, but had implied nothing was going to be done about it. 

[Oneeyedvic]

Actually (IMHO) the ads should be exempt:

from the Office of deputy Primeminister:

Advertising

You will need to apply to your local council for advertisement consent to display an advertisement bigger than 0.3 square metres on the front of, or outside, your property. A sign no larger than 0.3 metres, if it is for identification, direction or warning, such as your house name or number or "Beware of the dog", would not require this consent. Temporary notices of up to 0.6 square metres relating to local events, such as f�tes and concerts, may be displayed for a short period without having to apply to the council. There are different rules for estate agents' boards, but, in general, these should not be bigger than 0.5 square metres on each side. You can get advice from the planning department of your council; ask it for a copy of the Department's free booklet, Outdoor advertisements and signs: A Guide for Advertisers.

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/doc uments/page/odpm_plan_606151-06.hcsp

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/doc uments/page/odpm_plan_606218.hcsp

[Oneeyedvic]

I would also point out, that it is the local council's planning authority who are responsible for planning permission. If they require you to remove a sign, you have an automatic right of appeal to Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

contrary to the above implication, they can't come round at 3 in the morning to take the signs down.

[sxygirl]

has anyone got on to the oppsanal level 6 sats for ks2 year 6 ?