Village names and grass verges could be sponsored
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by political editor Paul Francis
Your village or town - and grass verges near where you live
- could be sponsored under plans by Kent County
Council to raise cash.
The scheme is an extension of an initiative to allow companies
to advertise on roundabouts, which started in 2007 and already
makes thousands of pounds for the authority.
But the proposal to allow sponsorship of more council-owned
assets has already come under fire, with countryside campaign
groups labelling it as tacky.
Critics have pointed out that the government recently announced
that it wants councils to reduce the amount of clutter caused by
signs in towns and villages.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles recently said councils needed
to cut 'street clutter' to prevent towns becoming scrap yards
rather than public places.
As well as roadside grass verges, KCC says the 38 boundary
signs to the county will also be offered to commercial sponsors and
that it is also considering allowing advertising inside and outside
its libraries.
Cllr Roger Gough (Con), cabinet member for corporate services,
said: "There is a revenue potential here which is not to be sniffed
at and it will offer a platform for local businesses to advertise.
Obviously, we will want to strike a sensible balance and we do have
the power to veto anything we think might not be appropriate."
Sean Furey of
the Kent branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England
(CPRE) said: "This smacks of desperation. Sponsorship of grass
verges is really scraping the barrel and the idea of having
commercial branding on Kent's boundary signs is cheap and rather
tacky, particularly given the importance of Kent's image as a
popular tourist destination."
Cllr Gough rejected the charge, saying KCC was committed to
reducing street clutter. "If you look at what we have done in
places like Ashord's shared space scheme, we are sympathetic to the
idea of reducing street clutter."
KCC is offering a four-year contract worth £536,000 to market
and run its scheme to would-be advertisers and sponsors.
An advert for the contract says as many as 200 roundabouts will
be available to sponsors, as well as border signs, grass verges and
gateway signs to towns and villages.
Thursday, September 02 2010
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