Wiltshire Council urged to review event poster rules again

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Wiltshire Council is being urged to reconsider its rules on advertising temporary events after circus posters were removed.

Wiltshire Council is being urged to rethink its approach to temporary event posters, just a year after it tried to resolve longstanding complaints about enforcement against event advertising. Conservative councillors Allison Bucknell (Lyneham) and Jane Davies (Marlborough West) have tabled a motion calling for another review of the authority's rules when full council meets on 20 October.

The controversy stems from enforcement action against event organisers. Last year, George Scarrott and Son's Family Fun Fair, which has held an annual fair in Royal Wootton Bassett since 1890, was threatened with legal action and faced a potential £250 fine for each poster. That case prompted Cllrs Bucknell and Davies to push for a 'Trusted Billposter' scheme designed to protect legitimate operators and community groups from what they saw as unnecessarily burdensome rules.

By March, council highway bosses said new guidance had been drawn up and promised a 'lighter touch' approach. This would allow organisers who complied with the rules to put up posters repeatedly without having to apply for permission each time.

However, in September, the issue arose again. Circus Ginnet owner Patrick Austin said around 200 of his A1 and A2 posters had been removed in Chippenham, costing hundreds of pounds in materials and lost publicity. Wiltshire Council said the posters had been attached to signs, bollards and traffic signals, which was not permitted. The council said organisers had been reminded of the requirements before Chippenham Town Council removed the posters.

How it is being reported

• Council urged to rethink event poster rules AGAIN after circus rowWiltshire Council is being urged to rethink its rules on posters for fairs, circuses and community events.Gazette & Herald · 16 Oct, 05:00
• Council urged to rethink event poster rules AGAIN after circus rowWiltshire Council is being urged to rethink its rules on posters for fairs, circuses and community events.Swindon Advertiser · 16 Oct, 05:00
• Council urged to rethink event poster rules AGAIN after circus rowWiltshire Council is being urged to rethink its rules on posters for fairs, circuses and community events.Wiltshire Times · 16 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Allison Bucknell · Jane Davies · George Scarrott and Son's Family Fun Fair · Royal Wootton Bassett · Patrick Austin · Circus Ginnet · Chippenham

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem