'The blight of Sudden'

Trisha Boileau, landlady from the Waggon and Horses pub pointing at the large billboard blocking the view to her pub for over a year

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Rochdale Borough Council has said there is “nothing we can do” about adverts littering the borough without planning permission, despite admitting that many adverts "contravene regulations".

Residents have complained about the adverts, including massive boards and posters overlooking Edinburgh Way and fixed to railings at Royle Road, as well as cars and vans which sit in locations across Rochdale, many in Sudden, with big billboards attached to them, taking up parking spaces and blocking footpaths.

A supposed 'loophole' in the law means the parked vehicles are “mobile” - even though some have been parked up in the same spot for lengthy periods - therefore, say Rochdale Council, do not require planning permission, and yet the government gave councils powers to do something about such 'mobile' adverts:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/3222/tougher-measures-to-crack-down-on-illegal-advertisements 

The 'fixed' adverts, the council has admitted, do not have the required planning permission, and are therefore in breach of planning regulations and yet the Council has taken no enforcement action despite complaints going back over two years.

Trisha Boileau, landlady from the Waggon and Horses pub, Sudden, has had a large billboard blocking the view to her pub for over a year.

She said: “You can’t see the front of my pub for this big advert, which is attached to a clamped car.

“Whoever is in charge comes back to put tax and insurance on it, and then they just leave it there. I pay £400 a month council tax, only for someone to come along and slam this in front of my pub?

“Its unbelievable that it takes up two parking spots as well, we have to park our car round the side, where it has been broken into and scratched a number of times.

“When is something going to be done?”

Rochdale Online News reported in March 2007 the Government giving councils powers to crack down on companies using such 'mobile' adverts, but the problem is still evident, if not rife, in Rochdale.

Mark Lupton, Enforcement Officer, Rochdale Borough Council said: “We are aware of these advertisements across the borough, many of which contravene regulations.

“We are in the process of looking at each case individually and will be taking enforcement action where appropriate in the near future.”

A local resident who did not want to be named said: “This is the blight of Sudden.

“I’ve spoken to a number of people who have had enough of the council getting away with such sloppiness.

“It is completely out of order and I am glad Rochdale Online has looked into it.”

•  www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/forum/topic.asp