Ad giant gets record £40k fine (From Your Local Guardian)

Ad giant gets record £40k fine

9:37am Tuesday 31st July 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

An advertising company has forked out a record £40,000 after illegally displaying ads in Wandsworth.

JCDecaux UK plastered ads in various locations, including the side of a Grade II listed building, without permission.

Wandsworth Council took legal action after colossal ad hoardings were seen in St John's Hill near Clapham Junction, Mitcham Road, Merton Road and Mitcham Lane.

The sheer scale of some of the displays, some measuring close to 30 metres squared, meant the council had to employ specialist equipment such as a lorry crane to remove them after JCDecaux failed to do so.

The cost of these removals will be passed to JCDecaux so the public does not foot the bill.

Cllr Guy Senior, executive member for planning and transportation, said: "JCDecaux is Europe's largest outdoor advertising company and this prosecution demonstrates that no one is exempt from planning laws.

"I am told that £40,000 is the highest ever fine for this type of offence and it highlights the seriousness of this case, which involved a number of sites and included planning offences on a locally loved Grade II listed building."

The Government's Department of Communities and Local Government has encouraged councils to stamp out this type of antisocial behaviour by increasing the level of fines.

JCDecaux was found guilty of 14 offences under the Town and County Planning Act when the case was heard at South Western Magistrates Court on Friday, June 29.

The company was fined a total of £32,300 and was also ordered to pay the council's full costs of £7,467.

• Print
• Email
• Share