HL Deb 17 December 1998 vol 595 cc166-7WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date and by whose authority the hedge on the verge of the A.12 trunk road on the Witham bypass was clipped back to a level to expose the hoardings erected on land owned by Braintree District Council: and whether they propose to require the removal of any such hoardings which contravene the advice in Planning Policy Guidance Note 19. [HL264]

Lord Whitty

The hedge is planted on land outside the highway boundary and is the responsibility of the land owner, Braintree District Council. The decisions to allow the hoardings which have been exposed by the hedge clipping were properly arrived at by the council, as the relevant planning authority, after it had taken account of all the material considerations, including the guidance in PPG19. The council will be reviewing the suitability of the hoardings when the advertisement control consents and licences expire early next year.