A councillor has accused Kirklees Council of “double standards” over illegal fly-posting.
Mirfield Tory councillor Martyn Bolt complained to Kirklees Council over posters fastened to road signs and street furniture promoting a circus performance in Heckmondwike.
Clr Bolt was particularly angry over 4ft by 3ft board-backed posters attached to traffic islands at the Fountain junction in Leeds Road, Roberttown.
But when he e-mailed a council officer about removing the posters, he was told there wasn’t a problem because it was a “community event.”
Clr Bolt said the circus was a commercial venture and said the council’s attitude could open the floodgates to fly-posting.
This month the council launched a ban on advertising boards on town centre streets, insisting that traders apply for a £106 licence to keep them.
But Clr Bolt said: “This is tremendous double standards by the council. On the one hand they are not letting shops and businesses that pay business rates advertise what they do but they allow a passing circus to fly-post and move on.”
Clr Bolt added: “At one time Kirklees took a dim view of fly-posting and went out to remove them and surcharge those responsible.
“Now it seems they are fine about posters if it’s for a ‘community’ event but how is that defined?
“If a local councillor put a poster up to promote themselves some people might say that was for the benefit of the community. Others might say it was a nuisance! This sets a dangerous precedent.”
A council spokesman said: “We have received the complaint and questions from Clr Bolt and these are now being investigated.”
