Firm faces £1,500 fly-posting bill

A ROYTON furniture company is facing a large bill after refusing to pay fines for fly-posting.

Oldham Council successfully prosecuted the owners of Cheers Furniture Showrooms in Higginshaw Lane after adverts were posted across the borough.

The firm was given the option of paying a fixed-penalty notice of £80 for each sign, which would have been reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.

But bosses refused to pay and legal proceedings began, resulting in them being ordered to pay a total of £1,565.

A council employee reported the illegal fly-posting to the Environmental Action Unit on April 6.

An officer from the unit investigated and spotted a number of posters in several locations including Manchester Road, Shaw; Blackshaw Lane, Royton; and Featherstall Road North.

A representative of the firm failed to attend a recent hearing at Oldham magistrates court.

The company was found guilty in its absence and ordered to pay £150 on each of seven offences, with £500 costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Rod Blyth, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “Oldham Council gave this firm ample opportunity to pay reduced fixed-penalty fines for fly-posting but they refused and now a court case has ended with them having to pay a much bigger bill.

“Fly-posting is difficult and expensive to remove and every year costs council taxpayers in the borough thousands of pounds. Not only that but because the posters are often poor quality they quickly become unsightly, leaving an area looking like it has been left to fall into disrepair.

“We will clear up illegal posters when they are reported to us but they are a drain on our resources — removing them ties up workers when they would be better deployed working on more worthwhile services.”

Fly-posting can be reported to the council on 0161 770 2244.