§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to empower local authorities to remove placards and posters displayed in contravention of advertisement regulations without the requirement to give two days' notice to the advertiser. [139696]
796W
§ Keith HillNo. The statutory two days minimum period must elapse before a local planning authority may remove or obliterate a placard or poster where it has served notice, on the person responsible for the poster, of its intention to do so. This provides that person with the opportunity to challenge the local planning authority's notice or to comply with it. Less than 48 hours is an unreasonably short period of time in which to expect the notice to reach the advertiser and for him to take action.