Estate agent fined over illegal advertising boards (From Watford Observer)

Connells prosecuted over illegally placed advertising boards

3:00pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

An estate agent has been landed with a large bill after being prosecuted for putting its advertising boards in public places in Watford.

Watford Borough Council took action against Connells, which has an office in The Parade, after it found sales and lettings boards put up outside the properties it was advertising.

The council said it launched an investigation into the company, whose registered office is in Leighton Buzzard, after receiving complaints from residents last year.

The resulting investigation found the estate agent’s signs on the corner of Glebe Close and Horseshoe Lane also on the corner of Woodville Court and Hempstead Road and on a bollard on the footpath along the A41 by East Drive.

On Monday, Connells admitted three offences by letter at Watford Magistrates' Court and was fined £500 for each. The Company was also ordered to pay £250 costs to the council for each offence as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Iain Sharpe, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for planning said: "We have written to local agents with detailed information about the regulations and the issuing of reminders about penalties should they be prosecuted. It is disappointing that a small minority of businesses continue to flout the rules and this shows that we will take action.

"These boards add to the general clutter of a street and bring no benefits to residents. Because of this we are writing to all agents advertising in the borough to give them an opportunity to remove any boards that have been illegally placed. If any remain after this, we will seek to prosecute the companies responsible."