Ludlow advertising boards crackdown pledge

ENFORCEMENT ACTION to remove advertising boards from the streets of Ludlow could take place in days, a leading councillor said today.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith said the action would be taken following the end of a six-month pilot scheme in Ludlow aimed at reducing the number of A-boards on land the authority owns in the town.

He said council officers had reached an agreement with many shop owners but enforcement action would be needed to remove a small number of A-boards over the next week.

It comes after claims this week by Veronica Calderbank, clerk of Ludlow Town Council, that there were concerns the pilot had led to more A-boards appearing in the town.

The pilot in Ludlow and Bridgnorth, launched in March, restricted traders to one A-board, with retailers told any additional boards would be removed.

It led to a huge outcry from traders, and a widespread A-Boards United poster campaign in shops throughout Ludlow town centre.

Steve Brown, Shropshire Council's head of environmental maintenance, today said: "This pilot has now ended. We are currently drafting a report which will be considered by cabinet.

"This draft report will be circulated to town and parish councils for consultation and their views will be taken into consideration before a final report is produced.

"If Ludlow Town Council has any concerns, I or my officers are more than happy to meet with them to discuss these."

Councillor Taylor-Smith, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, said: "The A-board policy only applies to land that is owned and controlled by Shropshire Council. It doesn't apply to private land.

"In many instances in Ludlow and in other places, boards are on private land, for example at Ludlow Assembly Rooms or at the Blue Boar."

Ms Calderbank said the town council's services committee had asked her to write to the unitary authority to find out the status of the pilot.

She said councillors felt the scheme had not managed to reduce the number of A-boards.

By Hannah Costigan and Peter Kitchen