News Charity signs ripped down by council
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council caused a stir last week when it smashed up signs promoting a local charity event.
The signs, advertising Music in the Park, which is held ast the Old Hall in Spaldington, were placed on roadsides near Beverley to promote the annual event, which raises thousands of pounds for a Parkinson's Disease charity.
Ann-Marie Jackson, organiser of the event, said: "Somebody rang me from the council and said that my signs were up on public highways and that it was illegal. I apologised and was very upset because I didn't want to break the law. I asked him where I could come and collect the signs.
'It was then that he told me he had smashed them up because they wouldn't fit in the back of his car. I was so angry, I just asked him: 'Why didn't you just call me?'."
Ann-Marie puts the signs up five or six weeks before the event, which takes place this year on July 5, in the same locations and has never had any problems before. This year is the sixth year the event has been run and has seen more than £50,000 raised for the Parkinson's Disease charity.
The signs cost Ann-Marie £799 altogether and she now has only three left - ones that were left in the council's depot in Beverley.
A spokesperson for the East Riding, said: "The Council's Streetscene Enforcement Team recently removed seven large signs, of approximate size 1.2 x 1.2 metres, which were promoting a music event on behalf of the Parkinson's Disease Charity. The Council has a duty under section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 to remove anything unlawfully placed on highway land that may constitute a danger. The fine for each offence can be as high as £1,000.
"The signs had been staked to the grass verge near to roundabouts, road junctions and other busy locations, where they were likely to create a distraction and ultimately present a risk to highway safety. For this reason they were removed immediately.
"During their removal four of the signs were damaged. This was attributed to their size, flimsy construction and the general difficulties incurred in transporting them back to the council depot. Under these circumstances, the Council does not consider it to be in any way liable for replacing the damaged signs, which were illegally sited in potentially dangerous locations on highway land.
"However, the event organisers are welcome to contact the Streetscene Enforcement Team to arrange collection of the three remaining signs, which are currently in storage at Beverley Depot. Obviously, if the intention is to re-use the signs they would need to be located on private land."
Published on 12th June 2008 in News.
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