Gaping hole in planning regulations - or is there?

Local residents have highlighted a gaping hole in planning regulations following complaints to Rochdale Council; a large advertising stand is attached to a trailer in Sudden parked on the highway of Old Manchester Road, across from the Wagon And Horses pub at the junction of Manchester Road and Roch Valley Way. The trailer is taking up two parking places, and residents complained about this however, they have been informed that as long as the advertisement is attached to the trailer no offence in law is being committed.

However, this advice somewhat contradicts a government announcement in 2005 that trumpeted a clampdown on roadside adverts that distract motorists, that stated that where a vehicle's primary use is as a display site for adverts, this is illegal unless express consent is given:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/10679

The advertisement is for an Oldham based kitchen company and the vehicle that is attached to the trailer has now had its nearside windows smashed.

The Sudden area is blighted by 'temporary', and not so temporary but not planning approved advertisements. Banners can frequently be found chained to the railings opposite the exit to Tesco on Silk Street, the latest by Oper8, the company that runs the Oulder Hill Leisure Complex/Gracie Fields Theatre.

Further along Silk Street, on what is a very busy and dangerous very sharp bend where Silk Street meets Royle Road, advertising hoardings have been erected by companies occupying the former Dunlop Mill without planning consent. The Council planning department have been mealy mouthed about these transgressions for over 18 months saying they are short of staff but are dealing with the situation, and yet despite the intervention of ward councillor Ted Flynn, still nothing has been done about the adverts.

However, when the target is an easy one, the planning department has no problem enforcing planning regulations, as Littleborough Estate Agent Keystone Estates found in May when he was ordered to take down a sign on the gable end of his shop. Owner of the estate agency Adil Ansari said at the time: “When it suits them the Planning Department will use a sledgehammer to crack a nut; it is clear discrimination when one business is made to comply with planning regulations and yet others are allowed to flout those same regulations with apparent impunity.”

Not even the bad publicity has shamed the planning department into applying the rules and regulations in a more even handed fashion and doing something about enforcing regulations at a dangerous bend.