Several businesses across Wiltshire have been issued fixed penalty notices (FPNs) amounting to £500 each after illegally placing posters on buildings and street furniture. Wiltshire Council confirmed these fines followed repeated breaches of regulations governing advertising displays.
Fly-posting refers to the placement of promotional materials—such as posters, signs, stickers, or bills—on public or private property without the consent of the landowner or occupier. This practice is prohibited under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Highways Act 1980.
While Wiltshire Council permits community advertising when prior permission is obtained, the fined businesses failed to comply with this requirement. Despite multiple warnings and requests from the council’s Enforcement Officers to remove the unauthorized advertising, the businesses continued to fly-post, ultimately leading to the issuance of the fixed penalty notices.
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The identities of the businesses involved have not been disclosed, as FPNs are not court convictions. Councillor Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Flooding, emphasized the negative impact of fly-posting, stating, “Fly-posting is unsightly and detracts from the beauty of our Wiltshire landscapes. It can also pose safety risks when signs distract drivers or block visibility at road junctions.”
He added, “Our officers aim to be reasonable and typically request removal of such signage. However, when warnings are ignored repeatedly, we have no choice but to enforce the law by issuing fixed penalty notices.”