motorway advertising

[musicman1956]

If it is illeagal to put up posters to advertise products and services on English motorways, Why are the fields alongside motorways littered with decrepit vans and trailers covered in adverts for services and products. What law is being broken and what can I do about it?

[Nosha123]

does it bother you then????

[PeelerPal]

I am confused, do you just like complaining about things that have no real impact on you personally?

If I were driving along the motorway and I saw a sign that was advertising something that I may be interested in than all it can be is positive. If the advertisements are in any offensive or vulgar then I could understand your concern but otherwise I cannot see the harm.

My advice to you is simply Take the scenic route!!

[jake-the-peg]

Looks like it falls under the remit of the local planning authorities

http://www.cpre.co.uk/news/view/93

I agree with you actually, if people can just flout planning regulations the place will soon be just an ugly mess of advertising hoardings.

Does it really have no real impact on us personally?

Isn't that like suggesting that fly-tipping doesn't affect us personally if it's not our land?

Or even that theft doesn't affect us if we're not being stolen from ourselves.

[Mr Veritas]

This is a problem that affects many councils,but primarily those on motorways or dual carriageways.
Such advertising IS illegal,but here we come to the problem.
Although such advertising contravenes planning laws it can take the council some time to enforce any legislation.
Usually the council has to go to court to get an enforcement order, which takes time,and also costs money.
While all councils in principal say they will prosecute many do not (for the above reasons)
Not only that,but when the advertising offender is notified on the intended prosecution they just drive the hoarding somewhere else,the councils really cannot win,especially given the fact that if the mobile hoarding is moved into the next field a new enforcement order is needed,and so it goes on.
You will realise then that many councils turn a blind eye to such advertising,even though they would deny it.

[buildersmate]

The way this works legally is to put the advertisement on a decrepid old van or trailer and park it in an adjacent field. Nothing illegal about that, unfortunately.

[musicman1956]

Many thanks for the information, to Nosha & PeelerPal you obviously are looking at it from a non-drivers point. When on a motorway anything that distracts or makes your eyes leave the road at speed is dangerous. When you both learn to drive, you may learn that. Thanks to everyone else.

[Skyline D]

I'm a driver. I don't see how it's any more dangerous than a road sign on a motorway. That also "makes your eyes leave the road at speed".

[PeelerPal]

MUSIC MAN

I understand what you are saying but it's just advertising and your reply makes no sense whatsoever considering the standard highways are plastered in bilboard advertising and also if you travel up the M4 towards London, you will see that larger companies drape their entire building in advertising so your reply is a little immature to say the least.

Also if anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road is illegal then standard road signs must be illegal too so the government would be breaking the statute that it granted itself, road signs are designed for you to look at otherwise they would serve no purpose! Much love x

[R1Geezer]

I think there is also a technicality here where a famer is entitled to park a vehicle in his field and if that just happens to have some sort of livery that may mention some product or other that's purely incidental!

[Mr Veritas]

RI,
No farmer is "entitled" to put a vehicle with advertising on it in his field.Please see my answer above.Advertising like this contravenes planning laws,and is therefore technically illegal.

PeelerPal,
musicman asked a perfectly valid question.
To take such a patronising and I might add ignorant stance is not in the spirit of AB.
If all you can do is denigrate a poster I suggest you don't answer.
"If you cannot say anything constructive,don't say anything!"

[buildersmate]

I did read your answer, Mr V, and hence my counter-answer.
You say it contravenes planning laws - I didn't think it did for the very reason R1 and I are saying. Otherwise how does Mr Tesco manage to put such big bold signs on his transporters? It's the same - but merely parked in a field. A technicality perhaps, but one that legally flouts any planning considerations.