LAMP-POST ADVERT BANNERS FOR UPMINSTER?

Traders, residents and councillors are furious at proposals to slap almost all Upminster Town Centre's lampposts with large advertisement banners which they fear will detract custom from local businesses and be an eyesore.

The three proposals relating to 29 of the total 46 lampposts in the core centre of Upminster were submitted to Havering Council by London-based company Bay Media on July 9.

Bay Media want permission to put up the 2m x 0.8m non-illuminated PVC banner signs five-metres above ground on all the lampposts on both sides of the road in Station Lane from Upminster station to the Bell Corner crossroads; in St Mary's Lane from Waitrose to the Bell Corner crossroads; and in Corbets Tey Road from the BP Garage to the Bell Corner crossroads - but not on the park-side of the road.

If approved there would be an agreement that a percentage of the revenue from the advertising would go to the council. But neither the council or Bay Media could reveal the details of the commercial agreement.

Councillor Ron Ower, who is also against the proposals and has requisitioned the application so that it is placed before the planning committee. He said: "They want to put them all round the borough. They say they're doing it to earn income but I don't think they will earn a lot from it. It will probably cost us more than we'll gain from it. And they'll spoil the place."

Click here to viewed the Application and make comments.

The application numbers are A0038.10, A0037.10 and A0035.10.

Deadline for comments is 5th August.

30.7.10