Illegal advertising

Has anyone else noticed the amount of illegal advertising in the village and how scruffy everything looks? Is it making anyone else angry?
The railings around the car park are a favourite for advertising anything from dance lessons to curry nights at a local pub. Builders have put notice boards in the flower beds at the end of Macclesfield Road and negotiating the freestanding advertising boards on the pavements is like running an obstacle course.
As there does not seem to be any consequences for the offenders the problem is escalating. Shouldn’t the council or the police be contacting these people and fining them at least?

I couldn’t agree more.

The Parish Council have held discussions with officers from Cheshire East only this week about the illegal flyposting in Alderley. CEC have agreed to proactively remove illegal banners and advertisements from public railings, trees etc.

Also the PCSO has the power to issue on the spot fines to people he catches in the act of flyposting.

I’ve always found the banners on railings a really great source of information!  Not half as scruffy as all the overgrown hedges, crumbling pavements, decaying children’s swings etc in the park.

Aidan, I do appreciate your point that the condition of the pavements and hedges etc also contribute to the overall scruffy, unkempt appearance of the village. Please remember though that flyposting is illegal and as such should not be condoned. I suggest you initiate another discussion to air your grievances.

Katherine / Matthew,

Don’t you think that our PCSO has better things to spend his time doing? For example, dealing with anti-social behaviour, collating intelligence regarding drug activity, building relationships with members of the community and dealing with the vulnerable should be Jim’s priorities. I sometimes think that some of the people in Alderley Edge are too detached from reality and this discussion simply confirms that for me.

Regards
William

William - it’s always to be admired when people (like you) are motivated to put pen to paper so to speak. However, in this instance I feel your sentiments are a little misguided.

Surely the PCSO should be dealing with this issue AND all the other issues you quite rightly highlight. Zero-tolerance is what is called for, not some wishy-washy fudge that ignores what some might see as an inconsequential transgression that harms nobody.

The trouble is that it’s illegal. And why should the residents of Alderley Edge put up with it, just so some chancers can get free advertising by defacing the village?

You may be pleased to hear, however, that the PCSO’s priorities seem to align more closely with yours. When I tackled him on the subject recently he couldn’t have been more disinterested.     

Nicholas,
I am interested in all matters concerning Alderely edge as your serving PCSO. The matter of advertising in the village is an issue which I will be adressing by contacting each business that does so.

Jim

I’m glad to hear that some action at least is planned. What is the legal process for repeat offenders and at what stage will it be invoked?

I also feel that a good starting place would be for the Parish Council to put up an official notice on the railings directly opposite Heyes Lane clarifying that illegal fly posting/vinyl banners will not be tolerated and that offenders will be prosecuted.