Published Wednesday, 31st January 2018
A company that placed illegal signs at multiple locations in Reigate and Redhill was fined over £5,000 at Guildford Magistrates’ Court.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council wrote to Crawley jet washing company, Captain Jetwash, formally asking it to remove illegally placed signs at Horley Road, Redhill, and in Reigate at Cockshot Hill, Prices Lane and the boundary fence to Priory Park. When the signs remained, the council removed them and issued a fine to the company. Captain Jetwash did not pay the fine so the council took the matter to court.
Planning law
Councillor Graham Knight, Executive Member for Enforcement and Community Safety at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council says: “Advertising in this way is covered by planning law to keep our borough looking attractive and tidy. We asked the company involved to remove the signs itself but it did not do so leaving us no choice but to remove them at the tax payers’ expense. While we would rather avoid taking legal action, we will always consider it when necessary and I am pleased that our action was endorsed by the courts.”
Court costs
Captain Jetwash did not provide a representative at the court case and Magistrates found the company guilty of four counts under advertising regulations in the Town and Country Planning Act. Captain Jetwash was fined £1,000 per offence plus costs and a victim surcharge, making a total of £5,363.