A BUSINESS in South Wales has been fined for illegally flyposting across parts of Reading, Reading Borough Council has announced.
ResinPrint Drives Ltd has been fined nearly £3,000 after illegal signs sprung up in parts of Southcote and Caversham.
The council’s planning enforcement team received reports of signs in the area advertising a range of driveway work available.
The council contacted the company, which is based in Wales, with warnings that the signage needed to be removed.
Contact was ignored, however, leading the council to begin legal prosecution in relation to the Town & Country Planning Act of 1990.
The company then chose not to attend a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court, meaning the case was heard in its absence on July 11.
Following evidence submitted by council officers, the company was fined £500, ordered to pay a surcharge of £200, and handed prosecution costs of £2,175– all set to be paid within 28 days.
In the wake of the prosecution, however, three further adverts from ResinPrint Drives have been observed in London Road and Shepherds House Lane.
The council has said that it will “continue to monitor” the situation and may bring further legal proceedings against the company.
Cllr Micky Leng, Reading Council’s Lead Councillor for Planning, said: “It’s unfortunate some companies, including this one, revert to unauthorised flyposting which make local communities look messy and uncared for.
“I’d like to thank the residents who took the time to report the flyposting to our planning enforcement team and would encourage other communities to do the same if they spot similar signage which clutters up our street and can hinder sightlines for road users, posing a potential danger to all. “
