Legal News
Estate agent prosecuted for illegal signs (29 February 2016)
Date: 29/02/2016
Dacorum Council has secured a conviction against an estate agent for illegal display of an estate agent’s board.
Sterling estate agent – which has offices in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring – pleaded guilty to placing an unlawful board on a telegraph pole at Common Lane in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.
The board was not displayed on land or property for sale – and the council says it was not, therefore, apparent to which property the board related.
The council’s Development Control Committee gave officers authority to start legal proceedings against Sterling on 26 November 2015. The prosecution followed several warnings to the company about placement of its boards.
St Albans Magistrates' Court fined Sterling £800 and ordered the estate agent to pay £780 in legal costs and a victim surcharge of £80.
After the hearing, the council’s Planning Specialist Services Team Leader, Philip Stanley, said:
“Unlawfully sited estate agents’ boards are misleading, unsightly – and can be visually distracting to motorists.
“We will not allow companies or individuals to colonise the borough’s public spaces for private gain – this includes estate agents – and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.
”As the local planning authority, we must ensure that the regulations in place to maintain our borough are followed.
“We will take appropriate action against illegal advertising – including prosecuting those who unlawfully site advertising boards and compromise the appearance of our borough.”
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a local authority prosecution or charge involving environmental offences, such as fly tipping, littering, water contamination, misuse of permitted land, illegal signage, air pollution or fisheries offences.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our criminal solicitors can advise even before charges are brought, as well as attending interviews with investigating or prosecuting authorities such as the Environment Agency or local authority officers.
For expert legal advice on environmental offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.