Businesses have been made to pay for “hazardous” illegal signage as the early signs of a clampdown in Renfrewshire were described as “promising”.
A total of 44 companies have been contacted about signs put up without permission since the policy change kicked in at the beginning of April, with a seven-day grace period to remove them without repercussions in place.
Five fines have been issued where they haven’t been brought down, meaning culprits have to fork out £100 – a charge considered reflective of the typical cost incurred by the council to investigate, remove and dispose of the signage.
Councillor Chris Gilmour, Labour group environment spokesperson, has been encouraged by the early data since the fee was introduced last month.
He said: “Illegal signage, particularly on our streets, can be a hazard to people who are partially sighted or disabled, the elderly or parents with young children in prams.
“We don’t want to stop businesses from trading but we need to be careful – we don’t want to cause hazards for people on narrow footways. I think that’s important.
“Our town and village centres are bad enough as they are but if you get illegal posting it just brings the whole area down.
“There is no control of the content of the sign and sometimes you have unscrupulous people who advertise businesses and a mobile phone number and when you go to phone them back, if you have a complaint, they disappear off the face of the earth.
“So, there are two aspects to it. Fly-posting can bring the whole look of our centres down and make them look untidy but it’s a hazard as well.
“Hopefully the more publicity this gets, people will take heed of the position and not do it.
“I’m pleased to see it looks like businesses are responding and removing signs. If 44 have been contacted and only five charged, initially that’s promising.”
A council spokesperson said: “We introduced a £100 fine from April 1, 2023, for the removal of illegal signage like adverts, business signs and posters which have been placed without permission on street furniture such as traffic lights, sign poles and pedestrian barriers.
“The charge is only applied if the illegal signage is not removed seven days after being notified and is helping to prevent this activity which can create a hazard for road users and pedestrians and litters the local environment.”
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
