Council guilty of displaying adverts 'illegally'

Banner advert on railings outside Touchstones

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That Rochdale Borough Council are "failing to take enforcement action" against people responsible for “illegal” adverts being erected across the borough is no surprise says a disgruntled resident, "given the Council and its partners are amongst those guilty of doing so"!

Residents have complained in July about adverts, including massive boards and posters overlooking Edinburgh Way and at the junction of Silk Street and Royle Road. A council spokesman said at the time “enforcement action is being taken” and yet still the adverts remain, and more are being erected and draped over railings.

A number of people contacted Rochdale Online to say that Rochdale Council is guilty of displaying such adverts without the requisite permission – these types of adverts on roadside furniture require both advertisement consent and highways consent – and gave as an example adverts on railings and lampposts outside Touchstones.

Asked if Touchstones had the required permissions, Link4Life Managing Director, Craig McAteer said: “Touchstones is a popular venue attracting people to the town centre. High quality banners and signs at the building are a very important way of doing this.

“At the time we asked to put up the first banner at Touchstones in 2004 we sought the relevant planning approval. But following an enquiry from Rochdale Online, we discovered that we did not have any record of permission being given by the highways authority.

“I will now discuss suitable replacement signage with the highways authority and would like to thank Online for helping us make sure all our signs and adverts meet all the relevant regulations.”