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Sandwich-board men on the streets of Westminster face large fines under a new ban |
The sandwich board men are finally banned
Street advertisers could face big fines
THEY are paid next to nothing and stand on their feet for hours, come rain or shine, hoisting heavy advertising boards promoting everything from golf sales to language schools.
But now the sandwich-board men of Westminster have been expelled from the streets and consigned to the history books with the introduction of a borough-wide ban.
After years of campaigning and legal wrangling, the news that the council will finally be able to enforce a ban has been welcomed by residents, who claim sandwich-board men are the scourge of the capital – cluttering up the streets with unsightly, garish placards.
The council claims it is the first local authority to use powers under the London Local Authorities Act to crack down of this form of mobile advertising.
The ruling, which came into effect on Monday, will operate in six no-go zones: Queensway, Praed Street in Paddington, Marylebone railway station, Baker Street, the West End and Victoria Station.
Previously all fixed adverts, such as posters, were regulated, but sandwich boards got around this by exploiting the loophole for mobile advertising.
The council has denied springing the new legislation on businesses without warning. Officials have identified and written to shops and businesses using the boards, warning them about the change in law and the maximum £2,500 fine for those who flout the rules.
Although the business and individuals holding the signs can be prosecuted, the council has promised to target the company involved only.
Colin Bennett, chairman of the Leicester Square Association, said: “It is the best news imaginable. I look out of my bedroom window and I can’t believe it.
“They really were a blight on the streets. It is the first step in tidying up the West End. Now they must tackle the A-boards and eventually the tacky shops.”
The council estimates the number of boards almost doubled to around 100 between 2005 and 2007. They first sprung up 10 years ago for small businesses, but now even large companies are using them to get shoppers’ attention.
Councillor Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for community protection, said: “The West End is a world-class destination with 3.5 million visitors every week and these cheap and tatty signs have no part in its future.
“Visitors expect and enjoy the buzz of the busy streets around Oxford Street and Covent Garden, but they do not want to fight their way past these signs cluttering up the pavement or see them disfiguring a beautiful conservation area.
“The powers will allow us to protect and enhance the character of our public streets and spaces and make Westminster a more enjoyable place for people to come.” |
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