Council successfully wages war on fly-posting

Horsham District Council has successfully prosecuted a local roofing business for illegal advertising across the Horsham District.

A Community Protection Notice (CPN) was issued to the business by the Council’s Horsham Town Neighbourhood Wardens in September 2020, outlining the prohibited activity and requesting that the fly-posted advertisements be removed.

The advertising signs in question had been put on display without permission from the landowners and without planning permission from the Council, and as such were classed as a fly-posting offence.

The CPN issued requesting the removal of the advertisements was ignored and subsequently a series of fines totaling £480 were issued for those signs that remained on display. The fines were paid by the company but the advertisements were still not removed.

The case was subsequently taken to the Magistrates Court resulting in the company being found guilty and held accountable for a breach of the Community Protection Notice.  They were then ordered to pay fines and costs amounting to £3272.

Commenting on the successful prosecution, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Community Matters and Wellbeing Cllr Tricia Youtan said:

This significant prosecution signals that as a council we will not tolerate this level of anti-social behaviour and will use all within our weaponry to deal with it and prevent it happening in the future.

“My thanks go out to our Neighbourhood Wardens for detecting and pursuing this matter.”

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Community Matters and Wellbeing Cllr Tricia Youtan

Illegally placed advertising signs can be a particularly problematic when placed on highways as they can distract road users and obstruct visibility. Similarly signs on footpaths can cause a hazard and obstruction to pedestrians.

Illegal signs can be a source of residents’ complaints and can also degrade the local street scene and act as a magnet for other unsightly illegal signage.

Fly-posting is an illegal offence under the Highways Act 1980.

Fly-posting can be reported to the Council at:

https://www.horsham.gov.uk/waste-recycling-and-bins/litter-and-street-cleaning/fly-posting

For media queries please email press@horsham.gov.uk .