§ Dr. VisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy on commercial advertising in London upon land having public highway or trunk road status; and how that policy and the factors underlying it have changed since 1990; [50562]
(2) if he will make it his policy that no private street signs will be licensed upon land having trunk road status unless provided in the interests of public safety; [50561]
(3) if he will make a statement on his policy on the granting of licences for street signs or advertising promoting commercial or sectional interests upon land having public highway or trunk road status. [50560]
§ Dr. Strang[holding answer 14 July 1998]: All applications for the erection of advertisements on or near public roads are considered with reference to their likely effects on public safety and amenity at their proposed location. Local planning authorities are responsible for advertisement control within the rules laid down in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, and the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Amendment) Regulation 1994. The Department's advice to local planning authorities remains as in DOE Circular 5/92. Appendix B sets out the public safety factors to be considered for advertisements on land alongside motorways, trunk roads and other roads. Highway authorities, including the Secretary of State as highway authority for trunk roads, 241W will take similar considerations into account in deciding whether advertisements should be permitted on land and street furniture that they own.