A company that illegally advertised its business on street furniture in the city has been fined £200 per placard.
Terry & Thomas Construction Ltd of Redfern Road, Tyseley, were fined for 14 placards by Birmingham Magistrates Court and ordered to pay £175 costs, giving a total of £2,975.00.
In November 2009, Environmental Wardens at Birmingham City Council were notified of illegal placards advertising a firm called Tyseley Metals that had been fly-posted in the Acocks Green and South Yardley area of the City.
Environmental Wardens initially wrote to Terry & Thomas Construction Ltd, the parent company of Tyseley Metals, asking that they remove the illegal advertisements. This request was ignored.
A director of Terry & Thomas Construction Ltd was interviewed in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, but refused to give details of who had erected the advertisements on the company’s behalf.
When the case went to Birmingham Magistrates Court, there was no appearance in court by the defendant company. Magistrates found the case proved in absence.
Councillor Neil Eustace, Chair of the Public Protection Committee at Birmingham City Council, says:
“Illegal advertisements undermine those businesses that have to pay for legitimate advertising and are also a visible blight on the streets in which they are posted.
“They are also a real danger to both pedestrians and drivers as they obscure lines of sight on the highways, which can result in road traffic accidents.
“I am pleased that the courts are signalling their support for the council’s action against illegal advertisements by issuing this level of fine.”
ENDS
For more information please contact Hayley Meachin on 0121 303 1271/ 07920 750007 hayley.meachin@birmingham.gov.uk
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