The problem
Fly-posting can occur anywhere but is usually found in urban locations. It is generally taken to be the display of advertising on buildings and street furniture without the consent of the owner. Fly-posting can be unsightly and make an area feel unsafe and uncared for. Keep Britain Tidy campaign against fly-posting and the harm it does to our environments and communities.
What is fly-posting?
There are three main types of fly-posting:
-
Advertising for local events - e.g. adverts for band playing in pubs or a local car boot sale
-
Poster advertising products of large organisations and put up by professional poster companies
-
Posters displayed by pressure groups or political bodies
These are all illegal forms of advertising if they are displayed on a building without the owners consent.
Why is fly-posting a problem?
More than eight out of ten local authorities have a problem with fly-posting. It is difficult and expensive to remove and can create a feeling of unease and fear. It costs council tax payers thousands of pounds a year to remove fly-posting and in many cases areas with fly-posting feel abandoned and can very soon fall into decline.
Whose responsibility is it to clear away fly-posting?
Councils have a legal duty to remove fly-posting from public buildings. For private buildings it is the property owner that has a responsibility to remove any fly-posting.
What can I do about fly-posting?
To complain about fly-posting on public property in your area you should contact your local council and give them the details of where the fly-posting is and what type it is. Fly-posting on private buildings must be dealt with by the owner so your complaint should be directed to them.
If you see large or public companies that are using fly-posting as a form of advertising you can write to them and complain. The more complaints they receive the more that they will understand that the public are not happy for their communities to be spoilt by fly-posting.
If you want to make a difference to fly-posting in your local area why not become a Keep Britain Tidy supporter. We will then be able to update you on everything we are doing to tackle fly-posting and other issues affecting our local environment.
For more information about fly-posting view our Knowledge Bank