Tendring District Council to clamp down on illegal business advertising

Tendring District Council has promised a clamp down after a surge in the number of unauthorised signs promoting business services.

The authority says there has been an increase in boards being displayed on properties, usually falling into two categories – people advertising businesses they run from their homes, or trades people acknowledging work they are doing at the property.

While it is acceptable for trades businesses to display a sign while work is taking place, keeping the sign up after work is completed requires advertisement consent from the council’s planning department.

Signs displayed without consent are illegal, and enforcement action could be taken against both the property owners and the trader.

Tendring District Council’s cabinet member for corporate enforcement, Fred Nicholls, said:

“There are clear rules about advertising, drawn up by government and policed locally, to make sure that any signs do not clutter or detract from the area. This is particularly the case in, for example, a Conservation Area, but too many signs or the wrong type of advertisements can make any area look unsightly.

“In some instances it can also be a danger to road users, either by being distracting or by obscuring existing road signs.

“That is why we are reminding people of the rules, and urging them to take down any adverts displayed without the relevant consent.

“If however people continue to flout the rules, we will be forced to consider taking formal enforcement action.”