A zero tolerance policy on flyposting could be introduced in the Braintree area following concerns about posters advertising events, products and even birthdays.

The Braintree District Cabinet member for the Environment and Highways Cllr Roger Walters said: "It's very difficult to have a discriminatory approach on what you pick up and what you don't pick up.

"Some of the feedback we have had so far has been very positive on zero tolerance."

He said that fly-posting was illegal and that included signs for events unless on private land.

"We favour zero tolerance because it's very difficult to discriminate on what is a good cause.

"The council is reviewing its policy after workers removed signs for a village fete in Gosfield.

He said the council received "lots of complaints about fly-posting", which the council's clean teams were asked to remove.

The council's operations director Peter Tattersley told the town centre strategy group a discriminatory approach could cause legal problems and lay the council open to legal action, particularly from businesses.

Published Friday August 13, 2004

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